As several FY 2024 Resolutions are Voted Upon, Election Results are Certified, Newly Elected Mayor and Eastern District Councilman are Sworn in.
Tonight’s meeting agenda includes passage of two water meter ordinances that the current Council has worked on for the better part of the last year, approval of accepting funding for the Purnell Street Project, amendments to the FY 2024 Budget and an extension on the moratorium regarding Cannabis Businesses locating in Town.
As one of his last official duties, outgoing Mayor Mike Pruitt will issue a proclamation recognizing June 19th as Juneteenth in Snow HIll, a celebration of African American freedom, which was first acknowledged in Texas in 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Water/Sewer Service Ordinances
Two ordinances were read for a second time and then voted upon tonight. The first, Ord. No. 2024-10 provides a more thorough accounting of the number of properties with homes/habitable structures on them. By requiring all properties to have a water meter present on them, the Council and Mayor have determined it will be much easier to assess the water and sewer usage throughout town, and maintain an accurate assessment of the EDU’s available through the existing water utility that services all homes, businesses and other organizations (such as churches, Lions Club, Elks Lodge, etc.) within the Town limits. The ordinance also allows for property owners to separately meter water to be used “outside” for a fee. Ordinance No. 2024-11, authorizes the issuance and sale of two “Town of Snow Hill Drinking Water Bonds” to finance costs associated with the Purnell Street Utility and Roadway Improvements Project. The project will replace the water mains under the street and pay for the engineering, construction and other expenses related to the project.
FY 2024 Budget Amendment
The Mayor and Council also agreed to shift approximately $516,000 from General Revenues to cover water and sewer unallocated expenses, and transfer an additional $84,300 to the capital improvement fund. Resolution 2024-03 was passed unanimously by the Council to do so.
Extended Moratorium on Cannabis-Related Businesses in Town
The Council and Mayor have decided to extend the existing moratorium for an additional three months on consideration of cannabis-related businesses locating within the town limits. The existing moratorium, memorialized in Resolution 2023-04 expires on June 12. In the resolution, the Council and Mayor state that “the public interest [will] be best served” if zoning and licensing code amendments and regulation are first addressed before accepting any application or site plan for operating any “businesses engaged in the processing and/or selling of cannabis.” This also passed unanimously.
Town Board of Election Supervisors Certify the Results of the May Election
The Town’s Board of Election Supervisors presented the certified May election results to the Council and Mayor showing that Janet Simpson won as Mayor and Ed Lee won as Eastern Disstrict Council representative. Both were installed following the report presentation. Both Mayor Simpson and Councilman Lee made comments after the installation (link here. installation begins at 43:00).
Mayor Simpson noted that the primary theme of her tenure will focus on communication and transparency, noting that she intends to include “everyone” in bringing the community together. She said that communication from Town Hall will be revamped to include a dedicated person to focus on the web site, managing the broadcast text service to be used to update citizens regularly. She also identified several ways she intends to engage the community including holding regular office hours, visiting other organizations regularly, and establishing a citizen’s roundatble. The Mayor has also connected with the Principal at Snow Hill High School and intends to establish a Youth Council that can inform and advise the Town Council on issues affecting them.
Unfortunately, the sound for Mr. Lee’s comments was inconsistent and it was difficult to review his comments, but much of what he said was consistent with his campaign platform of establishing a vision for the Town, and ensuring the Town is adequately represented within the County and in Annapolis.
There is an opportunity for Public comment at the end of the meeting, and it will be broadcast via Zoom (ID# 885 5027 5121) as well as on Facebook Live via the What’s Happening in Snow Hill page.
The Lower Shore Observer 