Betterton public meetings in 2022
17 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Mayor and Council
The Council approved the meeting minutes from November 8 and the November financial report. The town is seeking a new employee to assist with water and wastewater plant operations and property maintenance.
- Approved November 8, 2022 meeting minutes (all in favor)
- Approved November financial report (all in favor)
Mayor and Council
The Mayor administered the oath of office to newly elected Councilmembers Wayne Gilchrest and Harry Marcy. The Council approved the October financial report and previous meeting minutes. No new business was introduced.
- Appointed Councilman Pyfer as Mayor Pro Tempore
- Approved October 11, October 25 (Public Meeting), and October 25 (Workshop) minutes
- Approved October financial report
Public Meeting
The town held a public meeting to present information regarding a lead service-line pilot program conducted by the Maryland Rural Water Association (MRWA) and the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE). MRWA representatives discussed an upcoming inventory of existing town lines and the availability of funding for replacements. No formal votes or legislative decisions were recorded.
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council approved several administrative items including the September financial report and meeting minutes. They authorized the town clerk to select a credit card processing system at no cost to the town. The council voted to pay the employee portion for AFLAC short-term disability and accident insurance, and approved John Hancock for the employee retirement fund with an up to 3% match. No substantive zoning, land use, or major infrastructure decisions were made.
- Approved September 12, 2022 council minutes, September 13 public hearing minutes, and September 27 workshop minutes (unanimous)
- Approved September financial report (unanimous)
- Authorized town clerk to select a credit card processing system (unanimous)
- Approved paying employee portion for AFLAC short-term disability and accident insurance (unanimous)
- Approved John Hancock for employee retirement fund with up to 3% match (unanimous)
Regular Meeting
The council voted unanimously to approve an amended ordinance regarding hens. The change was read aloud, and the town manager was directed to publish a public notice. The meeting also included brief updates on code enforcement, a property complaint, a court case dismissal, and upcoming community events.
- Approved amended Hen Ordinance (unanimous)
- Directed town manager to publish public notice of the ordinance change
Regular Meeting
The council approved a FEMA request to switch from a water-based to a land-based approach for the Betterton Shoreline Erosion Mitigation project, which will not impact the budget. They also approved the August financial report and minutes from previous meetings. The October 1 election was canceled as there was no opposition; Mayor Donny Sutton and council members Harry Marcy and Wayne Gilchrest will be sworn in. A backyard chickens ordinance will be voted on at the September 27 workshop.
- Approved FEMA request to change shoreline erosion project to land-based approach
- Approved August financial report (unanimous)
- Approved minutes from August 9 council meeting, August 23 public hearing, and August 23 workshop (unanimous)
- Canceled October 1 election due to no opposition; Mayor Sutton and council members Marcy and Gilchrest to be sworn in
- Town Attorney to notify Bridgemax to remove equipment from tower if lease not signed
- Backyard chickens ordinance to be drafted for vote at September 27 workshop
Regular Meeting
The council voted unanimously to pass Emergency Ordinance 2022-02, a budget line-item adjustment increasing the trash and recycling line item. No other substantive decisions were made; updates were provided on Ericsson Avenue, tennis/basketball courts, and Bayside Avenue, but no votes were taken on those items.
- Approved Emergency Ordinance 2022-02 for trash and recycling budget adjustment (unanimous)
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council voted to hire Republic Services for trash and recycling pickup after Eastern Shore Environmental announced it would stop service on July 31, 2022. The decision was made after discussing two proposals, with Republic Services offering a per-house monthly rate of $32.00. The motion was made by Councilman Marcy, seconded by Councilman Fracassi, and carried unanimously.
- Approved hiring Republic Services for trash and recycling pickup (unanimous)
- Discussed breach of contract by Eastern Shore Environmental with Town Attorney
- Noted public hearing for backyard chickens ordinance requires two weeks of newspaper advertising
- Announced candidate petitions for Mayor and 2 Council seats available August 4
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council adopted Resolution 2022-02 for the Circuit Rider/Town Manager program, approved two new Planning/Zoning board nominees, and awarded contracts for the County Bathhouse water meter replacement and Pump Station 2 generator. They also discussed the trash collection contract breach and set an August 9 public hearing for a backyard chicken ordinance.
- Adopted Resolution 2022-02 Circuit Rider/Town Manager Program (all in favor)
- Approved George Bailor and Cheryl Fracassi as Planning/Zoning board nominees (all in favor)
- Awarded David A. Bramble, Inc. bid of $23,375 for County Bathhouse water meter replacement (4-0, Pyfer abstained)
- Awarded Nilo Electrical Contractors, LLC bid of $36,350 for Pump Station 2 generator (all in favor)
- Approved Baby Contest at Community Center on Betterton Day (all in favor)
- Approved May & June financial report (all in favor)
- Approved minutes from May 10, May 24, and June 28 meetings (all in favor)
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council held a workshop and approved measures for Lindstrom Excavating's construction work, including a $20K insurance policy and retainage holdback, while declining to pay $65,000 for half-load truck deliveries. The town attorney was directed to negotiate terms with Lindstrom's attorney before the July 13 court date. Bids for a lateral and meter replacement were reviewed but not awarded, and a pump station generator bid was postponed to the July 12 meeting.
- Approved Lindstrom construction measures: $20K insurance policy and retainage holdback (all in favor)
- Directed attorney to negotiate terms with Lindstrom's attorney before July 13 court date
- Reviewed bids for lateral and meter replacement: Bramble $23,375, Lindstrom $17,700 (no award)
- Postponed pump station generator bid opening to July 12 meeting
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council approved Resolution 2022-01 authorizing CDBG grant applications and Ordinance 2022-01, the budget ordinance, both unanimously. The council also received updates on the Bayside Bluff project and announcements about local events and garden maintenance changes.
- Approved Resolution 2022-01 authorizing CDBG grant applications (unanimous)
- Approved Budget Ordinance 2022-01 (unanimous)
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council approved a water leak adjustment for the Crews Landing Condo Association, reducing the amount billed after a severe leak on common grounds. The vote was 4 yea, 0 nay, with Councilman Marcy abstaining. The council also approved the April 2022 financial report and the minutes from previous meetings, and discussed the Bayside Blvd. Bluff project, park improvements using ARPA funds, and other routine matters.
- Approved April 2022 financial report (all in favor)
- Approved minutes of April 12 and April 26 meetings (all in favor)
- Approved Crews Landing water leak adjustment (4-0-1, Marcy abstained)
- Moved to closed session for personnel discussion (all in favor)
- Adjourned meeting at 9:15 p.m. (all in favor)
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council held a workshop meeting virtually, during which they entered a closed session to consult with the town attorney about ongoing litigation. No action was taken during the closed session, and the meeting adjourned without any substantive decisions.
- Entered closed session to consult with attorney on litigation (all in favor)
- Adjourned workshop meeting (all in favor)
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council approved the March 2022 financial report and minutes, and discussed putting water/sewer projects out to bid. They tabled a decision on a water leak adjustment request for Crews Landing. The council also discussed a possible chicken ordinance amendment and heard that recycling pickup will go out to bid after Infinity Recycling announced closure.
- Approved March 2022 financial report (unanimous)
- Approved minutes of March 8, 2022 meeting (unanimous)
- Tabled decision on Crews Landing water leak adjustment request
- Directed town manager to put recycling pickup out to bid
- Directed putting water/sewer projects (bathhouse service lateral, pump station generators) out to bid
- Discussed possible chicken ordinance amendment; public hearing to be scheduled
- Entered closed session for litigation discussion; no actions taken
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council approved giving 30-day notice to Delmarva Wifi and AB Indiana to terminate current month-to-month tower leases and to offer new leases increasing the monthly fee to $500 per company. They also approved the January 2022 financial report and minutes from prior meetings. The Shoreline Erosion project will be rebid after a bid exceeded $900K, with new bids to be opened at the March 8 meeting.
- Approved minutes from Jan 11 and Jan 25 meetings (all in favor)
- Approved January 2022 financial report (all in favor)
- Granted permission for Museums of Kent meeting at community center on Feb 16
- Approved 30-day notice to terminate tower leases and offer new leases at $500/month (all in favor)
- Signed proclamation for Front Line Workers and First Responders
Regular Meeting
The Mayor and Council voted unanimously to adopt Charter Amendment Resolution 2021-05. The town attorney explained the required 40-day publication and referendum period before the amendment takes effect. No other formal decisions were made; the meeting included discussion of a possible chicken ordinance and updates on other projects.
- Adopted Charter Amendment Resolution 2021-05 (unanimous)
- Discussed Planning/Zoning proposal to allow backyard chickens (no vote)
- Tabled Tower Lease Agreement draft for February 8 meeting
Regular Meeting
The Betterton Mayor and Council approved the December 2021 financial report and the minutes from the December 14, 2021 meeting. The town manager reported that FEMA rejected the land approach for the Bayside Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project, requiring a rebid. A public hearing on a charter amendment to cancel uncontested elections was scheduled for January 25, 2022.
- Approved December 2021 financial report (all in favor)
- Approved minutes of December 14, 2021 meeting (all in favor)
- Heard FEMA rejection of Bayside Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project land approach; project to be rebid
- Scheduled public hearing on charter amendment to cancel uncontested elections for Jan. 25, 2022