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Trappe Council approves sewer financing, ARPA spending and procurement policy; backs county tax increase
Summary
At its Dec. 4 meeting the Trappe Town Council adopted ordinances and resolutions to finance sanitary sewer upgrades, approved ARPA-funded spending including $500 staff bonuses and a $130,154 contract award, and voted to send a letter supporting Talbot County’s proposed accommodations tax increase.
The Trappe Town Council on Dec. 4 adopted a set of financing measures to support sanitary sewer repairs and approved several ARPA-funded expenditures, including one-time employee bonuses and a construction contract.
President Schmidt opened the meeting and read Ordinance 4-2024, which replaces the town procurement policy; the council adopted the ordinance unanimously. The council then adopted Ordinance 5-2024 and Ordinance 6-2024 — each authorizing up to $1,141,000 in bonds or bond anticipation notes to fund repairs, upgrades or replacement of sanitary sewer pumping stations and related public improvements — with unanimous votes.
The council also approved Resolution 6-2024, which authorizes a six-month extension of an interim financing note with Shore United Bank while U.S. Department of Agriculture funding is finalized. Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan said the extension was needed because the USDA funding was approved but would not be in place before the existing interim loan matures. The resolution passed unanimously. The council adopted Resolution 7-2024 to renew a $100,000 line of credit with Shore United Bank; that resolution passed unanimously and the line currently has no outstanding balance.
On ARPA spending, Town Administrator Erin Braband presented an updated funds report. Commissioner Water Chase moved to give every town employee a one-time COVID bonus of $500; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The council unanimously awarded the influent screen rehabilitation contract to Bearing Construction for $130,154. The council also directed staff and legal counsel to amend the sewer liner RFP (increasing the amount to $75,000) and asked Administrator Braband to seek an amendment from engineering firm Davis, Bowen and Friedel to add lead line inventory services for $40,000 from remaining ARPA funds. A workshop to finalize ARPA allocations was scheduled for Dec. 23 at 1:00 p.m.
Separately, Cassandra Vanhooser of Talbot County asked the council for a letter supporting an increase in the county accommodations tax from 4% to 6% (the county collects the tax and remits towns their share minus a 5% service fee). Commissioner Water Chase moved to send a letter of support; the motion passed 4–0 with Commissioner Jeremy Newnam recorded as abstaining.
The meeting included routine procedure items: approval of the Dec. 4 agenda and the Nov. 6 minutes, departmental reports on budgets and public works, and a public safety update from Sgt. Aita noting a new grant to increase patrols. An executive session to discuss a personnel matter was held during the meeting; the council reopened and adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 4-2024 (procurement policy) adopted unanimously; Ordinance 5-2024 (bonds up to $1,141,000) adopted unanimously; Ordinance 6-2024 (BANs up to $1,141,000) adopted unanimously; Resolution 6-2024 (note modification/extension) adopted unanimously; Resolution 7-2024 (renew line of credit $100,000) adopted unanimously. ARPA actions: $500 employee bonus approved unanimously; influent screen contract to Bearing Construction for $130,154 approved unanimously. The council scheduled an ARPA workshop for Dec. 23 to finalize remaining allocations.
