Charles Town, City of

The agenda for the meeting includes officer elections for Chair and Co-Chair, which is also an unfinished business item carried over from a previous discussion. New business features two public hearings: one for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA2026-02) regarding a wall sign at 213 W Washington St, and another for a Façade Improvement Grant request (FIP2026-01) for window replacements at 131 W Washington St. The meeting materials reference the draft minutes from the February 9, 2026 meeting for approval.

The Ordinance Committee addressed several unfinished business items. Significant work was conducted on Ordinance 2026:1185 regarding Vacant Structures, with further review pending before presentation to the City Council. Revisions to Ordinance 745 concerning Business and Occupation Tax, necessitated by State Code updates, were finalized and forwarded for full Council consideration. The Business License Application Packet was noted as already referred to the Council. Work on Ordinance 2026-1188 concerning the Council article has not yet commenced and will remain on the agenda.

The committee meeting addressed an update regarding progress with PayPoint HR for 2026, noting that employee surveys were submitted and comparator cities/counties are being contacted for salary and benefit information. Key new business included setting the 2026 meeting schedule and discussing the process for the City Manager's mid-year review, which involved planning to select questions for feedback collection from councilmembers and staff.

The committee meeting addressed the Total Compensation Study Update, where the initial finding indicated current City salaries are 1.1% below the 50th percentile. In New Business, the committee discussed proposed revisions to the Employee Handbook concerning holiday recognition as declared by the Governor and City Council. Furthermore, modifications to the Parental Leave benefit were proposed, including allowing intermittent work schedules and adjusting the pay schedule based on years of service. The committee favored allowing intermittent use but requested further discussion on the pay schedule change, though they agreed to reduce the threshold for 100% pay from five years to three years of service.

The Tree Board meeting focused on numerous ongoing and new business items. Unfinished business included discussions on the Tree Canopy/Inventory Update, noting the need for assistance and potential use of state community grants, with a Chesapeake Bay initiative deadline approaching. The Pollinator Garden required scheduling future weeding/trimming efforts. Revisions to the Tree Ordinance, focusing on establishing an approved list of native species rather than a prohibited invasive list, gained urgency following recent City Council discussions regarding tree responsibility. The Board discussed plans for planting Chestnut Tree Saplings in the Spring of 2026 and organizing volunteer recruitment efforts. Discussions covered the Arbor Day Foundation software for tracking plantings, with an estimated cost of $3,000 potentially covered by grant funds. Tree trimming issues city-wide, including West Washington Street and Jefferson Memorial Park removal, are being addressed via an RFP process. New business involved considering development fees for the Tree Board in subdivision ordinances, potential citations for invasive species planting, and the application process for Bee City USA status. The Board reviewed the Master Plan Draft and Proposed Draft Budget, emphasizing that the tree canopy is crucial for grant acquisition, and set the Arbor Day tree planting for April 24th, 2026.