BGE meeting with residents on bills

Friday, Feb. 27, 2009

Large utility bills have enraged many Twin Beach residents recently and Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl addressed the issue at the town's council meeting last Thursday, Feb. 19.

In the mayor's report, Wahl recapped the Feb. 14 meeting that "turned unruly" and drew an estimated 250 citizens to hear what Baltimore, Gas & Electric had to say about high energy bills. The previous Thursday, BGE notified the town and agreed to set aside four days to bring 12 representatives to the Beaches to talk with individuals by appointment about their bills, Wahl said. They will have laptops and review each bill with the customer, he said.

"It's a good faith effort on their part, we'll see what comes next," Wahl said.

When Del. Sue Kullen (D- Calvert) heard about BGE's proposal she said, "I'm pleased they're making an effort and need to."

Representatives will call and schedule meetings with those who requested reviews of their bills at the Valentine's Day meeting and Town Clerk Michelle Jenkins said if other residents would like to set up appointment times they should contact her and she will help connect them with a BGE representative.

Stimulus package funding

As mayor, Wahl said he has been lobbying legislatures and sending out letters to agencies asking for money from the stimulus package.

Construction of the water tower at the Chesapeake Village subdivision meets stimulus package requirements, he said. Wahl said he also hopes the town can gather funds for the Chesapeake Railway Trail.

The trail is on its last step before the work can go out to bid, said Town Engineer Paul Woodburn. With the permits approved and in place, the town is giving the paperwork back to the state so the appropriated grant money will be released, he said. Construction could start this summer.

Deputy's report

Deputy Brianna Gray said there were six vehicles stolen in the Beaches in December 2008, and all of the crimes have recently been solved.

"One hundred percent of the cars stolen were unlocked and keys in the ignition," Gray said. Some people are still not getting the message about keeping vehicles locked, she said.

"We're doing our best, but if you're putting it out on a platter," Gray said.

Seven theft complaints were received in January, two closed by arrest and five are under investigation, and there were no burglary complaints, she said.

Ordinance for residential parking

With some homes in town lacking space to park a vehicle next to the home, the town introduced an ordinance to amend a zoning code. The ordinance removes the prohibition against residential off-street parking within the front setback area between a home and the street. A public hearing on the ordinance was set for 7:55 p.m. prior to next month's council meeting.

Sterns & Wheler answers

To respond to questions some council members had at last month's town council meeting about additional costs related to the waste water treatment shellfish tank project, Wahl asked Sterns & Wheler Vice President Jeff Sturdvent to speak. The engineering firm Sterns & Wheler was contracted by the town to oversee the construction of the shellfish tank project. Sturdvent explained that the contractor found some unsuitable material that had to be removed, which initially stalled the project. The contractor was six months late in completing the project, so Sterns & Wheler was "on site longer than expected," he said. The project was just completed Jan. 16 and it was scheduled to be completed last June so Sterns & Wheler had to come back to the town for additional expenses, he said. The contractor had issues with equipment failures and and big rain events that slowed the project, Sturdvent said.

"Overall, they did a great job," he said.

Council members asked if the town could ask the contractor to pay the extra cost since deadlines were not met, and Sturdvent said the town has some recourse with the extra expenses. Wahl said he and the town attorney would look into the matter.

Presentation of water resources

To comply with the town's comprehensive plan requirements, the council called on Calvert County Planning and Zoning Director Greg Bowen to discuss the water resource element of the town. Bowen narrated a presentation on county aquifers and the impacts of sewer treatment plants and storm drainage on water quality.

"In watershed planning, you can't stop at a boundary line," Bowen said. Water levels in Calvert County have been going down, he said. But after extensively looking at the aquifers, Bowen said, the county has good water quality and it needs to continue to set goals and standards for water quality.

charvat@somdnews.com