Between 15 and 20 town residents showed up to voice their concerns regarding traffic at the proposed Garrett Point Development during Tuesday night's work session in Perryville.
The development in the Richmond Hills neighborhood would bring low-income townhouses and apartment buildings for rent to the town. The biggest concern the project has brought, however, is the issue of increased traffic at an already busy and difficult intersection at Franklin Street and Route 222.
Patrick Wagner, vice president of Conifer Realty, and Frank Hodgetts, president of Home Partnership Inc., the developers of the project, reported that a traffic impact study on the intersection had been submitted and the project would have a minimal impact on the community, including drivers making a left-hand turn off Franklin Street onto Route 222, which is the only road in and out of the community.
The study was done over the course of a week and was cross-referenced with previous studies, they told town officials.
Wagner said project representatives met with the Maryland State Highway Administration to look at the intersection and see if it was necessary for a traffic light to be put there. SHA concluded it was not an unsafe intersection and traffic delays and previous accidents reported there do not require a traffic light to be installed.
Wagner also suggested a potential reduction of the number of rental units to 50 in the development, which was originally planned for 62 total units to be built. A future addition of 12 rental units is an option, Wagner added, saying the decision will be up to the town.
Town Commissioner Michael Dawson said he wasn't "a big fan" of the study and thinks the public would disagree with it, as it's "not reality." Commissioner Alan Fox agreed, saying he doesn't "put a lot of faith in studies."
Dawson added that he had walked the community to be affected by the Garrett Point project and spoke with "almost half of the residents there." All the residents Dawson spoke with said they didn't want the development to be there because of the traffic issues, he added.
"Doesn't that concern you?" Dawson asked Wagner and Hodgetts.
"It's the same anywhere you go," Wagner said. "No one wants more people in their development."
Noticing comments being made among the crowd, Dawson asked to amend the meeting's agenda and "let the town speak." Michael Glen Jasper Jr., of the 100 block of John Street, was the first of many town residents present to speak on the issue.
"Monitor the intersection for yourself," Jasper said in response to the traffic study discussed. He added that the only way to get out of the community by turning left off Franklin Street is another driver "giving you the courtesy."
Wagner and Hodgetts expressed their willingness to monitor the intersection.
"I don't see where you're benefiting the development," Jasper said. Other residents in attendance agreed with Jasper's concerns about traffic.
Bill Huss, of the 500 block of Charles Street, commented on the continuing problem of low water pressure in the community.
"We hardly have enough water to take a shower," he said.
Town Commissioner Barbara Brown said that is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed and residents should write down the date and time they notice water pressure being low to see if this could help resolve the problem.
Wagner added, "As part of engineering for the project, we could help solve the problem."
Picnic brouhaha
Discussions of an upcoming employee picnic also brought heated debate not only with residents but also with Dawson and the rest of the board.
The picnic, which occurs annually and has already been budgeted for by the town, brought on criticism from Dawson, who asked, "We're in some tough economic times right now, [and] we're going to spend taxpayers' money on a picnic?" The picnic, which comes out of the commissioner and mayor's fund, would cost almost $2,000, Dawson estimated.
Town Commissioner Michelle Linkey said, in response, that the key to having a well-run organization is to keep camaraderie among government employees and the picnic is one way of doing that. She added that the picnic had already been budgeted for and the town has the money to hold the event, but the issue can be brought up next year if less money is available and there are still concerns.
"We should all be pitching in our own money and not using town funds," Dawson said, adding that he has "a problem" with spending town money on the event.
Fox agreed with Linkey, saying he refused "to apologize for having a picnic" that was already budgeted for. Linkey reiterated that an event such as the employee picnic helps foster teamwork. She added that employees do fund the annual Christmas party.
Jasper again voiced his comments in front of the board, siding with Dawson. Jasper noted that while he feels town employees "have done a good job," work hard and deserve a picnic, the money for the event should not come out of town funds. He added that the company he works for does not pay for employee events and the workers are the ones who fund them.
Brown responded that the board members are volunteers elected by the town and don't get paid for the work they put in. She also used the department of public works as an example of the hard work put into running the town and noted that the employees are always on-call.
"Maybe it's something we owe these men because we can depend on them," Brown said.
In other business at Tuesday's work session:
• Covenant Marine Group COO Robert Carey and CEO Kurt Sarac appeared before the board to request an abatement — more than $7,500 — for a repaired water leak at Riverwalk Marina, 31 River Road.
Covenant Marine Group has a lease-to-purchase agreement with Cecil Bank, which owns the property, and took it over May 7. The water leak, which existed before the group entered the agreement, was repaired May 11.
•Locations for a "Welcome to Perryville" sign were discussed, as was whether it should be a lighted digital sign to announce upcoming events and other town news.
"Signs are a want, not a need" at this time, Dawson commented.
Town Administrator Denise Breder said the sign would be of "minimal cost," a couple thousand dollars at most.
• There was further discussion on the possibility of listing resolutions and budget amendments on the town's website and/or Facebook page.
• The issuing of boat ramp permits and limitations placed on Perryville by the state were also brought up.
Brown said the state Department of Natural Resources controls the rules and regulations and if the department approves changes, the limits could possibly be amended.