City Council
Minutes of City Council Meetings | Agenda for next City Council Meeting

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
FEBRUARY 10, 2003

QUORUM:

A meeting of The Mayor and Common Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 1838 Emerald Hill Lane, on the evening of February 10, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Ferguson, Chiavacci, and Wack; Department Heads Beyard and Urban; City Attorney Walsh; Westminster City Police Chief Joneckis; and City Clerk Taylor were present.

MINUTES:

The Minutes of the Meeting of January 27, 2003 were approved on Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and duly passed.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

On Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Dr. Wack and duly passed, the Consent Calendar was approved, consisting of: 1) an amendment to the Lease for the Carroll Theater; and 2) Disposition of Surplus Property.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

… Announced that the Maryland Municipal League March dinner would be held at the Westminster Fire Hall on March 6, 2003, and encouraged all present to attend.

… Expressed concern about the lack of a viable Disaster Response Plan in Carroll County and summarized his actions to develop one for the City of Westminster.

… Praised the Estonian Girls’ Television Choir for their concert on February 8, 2003, and thanked staff and other attendees.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Council President Halstad noted that Mr. Pecoraro’s resignation from the Common Council created vacancies on the Economic Development and Community Affairs Committee and on the recently formed Council of Governments. He recommended that Dr. Wack be appointed Vice Chairperson of the Economic Development and Community Affairs Committee and that Council President Halstad be appointed to the Council of Governments. Both appointments would be provisional until the reorganization in May. Following a brief discussion about procedure for the latter appointment, Mr. Ferguson moved that the City of Westminster join the Council of Governments and that Council President Halstad be appointed as the City’s representative. Dr. Wack seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Chiavacci moved to appoint Dr. Wack to the Economic Development and Community Affairs Committee. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Mr. Ferguson stated that proposed Ordinance No. 696 – Alcoholic Beverage Use in City-Leased Buildings – had been amended to allow alcoholic beverages strictly at special events in the Carroll Theater. Alcohol would continue to be prohibited on all other City property, indoors and outdoors. Council President Halstad observed that the Ordinance carved the narrowest possible exception to the alcohol prohibition. Ms. Sandra Oxx, Executive Director of the Carroll County Arts Council, thanked the Common Council for considering the Ordinance. On Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Dr. Wack and duly passed, the Amendment to Ordinance No. 696 was approved. On Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Dr. Wack and duly passed, Ordinance No. 696 was adopted as amended. Mrs. Albert abstained from voting on both Motions.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Council President Halstad recused himself from deliberating on the Roberts-Norris Rezoning Decision because one of his partners represented the applicants. Mr. Beyard summarized the rezoning request, which had been the subject of a Public Hearing on January 27, 2003. Mr. Ferguson observed that he was impressed by the number of letters objecting to the extension of Church Street. As a result, Mr. Ferguson proposed a compromise under which the Council would approve the rezoning but advise against the full extension of Church Street, assuming the partial extension would not create concerns about public safety. Mr. Chiavacci agreed, asking whether the record should be re-opened based on this compromise. After a discussion of the rezoning and site plan approval processes, staff was directed to draft a Decision embodying Mr. Ferguson’s proposal. The Hearing record was not reopened. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Council President Halstad summarized a proposed Agreement between the City of Westminster and the State Highway Administration involving the relocation of City utility lines in conjunction with the State’s replacement of bridges at Maryland Routes 27 and 140 and Routes 97 and 140. Mr. Beyard noted that the agreement terms were favorable to the City. Mr. Ferguson moved to approve the Letter of Agreement, Ms. Albert seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously.

Council President Halstad next summarized proposed Deeds of Extinguishment and Easement between the City of Westminster, Acorn Hospitality L.L.C., and Cranberry Enterprises, L.L.C., involving utility easements across commercial property near the intersections of Maryland Route No.140 and Cranberry Road. The parties established the easements without knowing the precise location of future buildings. As it turned out, it was necessary to extinguish the original easements and relocate them. Ms. Albert moved to accept the Deeds and authorize the Mayor to execute them. Dr. Wack seconded, and the Motion passed unanimously.

At the request of Council President Halstad, Mr. Beyard summarized spreadsheets outlining the bid tabulations for the Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal. BFI, Inc., made the lowest bid out of the three bids submitted. Mr. Beyard noted that he hoped to make a recommendation at the Mayor and Common Council Meeting on March 10, 2003.

Mayor Dayhoff recommended that Mr. Ferguson be appointed Council Liaison to the Carroll County Arts Council. Dr. Wack so moved, Mr. Chiavacci seconded, and the Mayor’s appointment was approved.

Mayor Dayhoff named Dr. Wack as his appointment to the Carroll Cable Regulatory Commission. On Motion of Mr. Chiavacci, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and duly passed, the appointment was approved.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Chief Joneckis announced that the Westminster Police Department had received three awards: for 90 percent civilian seatbelt use compliance, for 100 percent police seatbelt use compliance, and an award from St. John School. He also noted that a committee would be awarding grants to children in the Pennsylvania Avenue area for dance lessons in about a week’s time. Chief Joneckis advised that the Golf Tournament at Wakefield Valley Golf Club to raise dance scholarship money would occur on July 16, 2003, and that Dr. Benjamin Carson would be the banquet speaker. Finally, Chief Joneckis remarked that the Westminster Police Department had sent souvenirs to a twelve-year-old boy in Roseville, Michigan who is interested in police work.

Mr. Chiavacci announced that all of the sworn police officers submitted Petitions in favor the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System. He stated that the Resolution should be placed on the next Agenda for Final Adoption.

Mr. Beyard complimented the Stewart N. Dutterer Flower Shop for the flowers and decorations at the Estonian Girls’ Television Choir Concert. He noted that, through the generosity of a local resident, an Estonian family would visit Westminster in the near future and be escorted to points of interest in the area. He thanked the donor.

Mr. Beyard advised that the City and County were working together to have the County do overlay work on Cranberry Road.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

Ms. Lori Graham of the Stewart N. Dutterer Flower Shop thanked the City for the opportunity to work with the Estonian Girls’ Television Choir Concert.

City resident Emily White Gartrell announced that February 15, 2003 would be “V Day,” as part of a campaign to end violence against girls and women. A special play would be performed on February 15 and a discussion group would convene on the following day. Mayor Dayhoff advised her that he would sign a Proclamation declaring Westminster a Rape and Violence Free Zone.

City resident and former Council Member Rebekah Orenstein observed that the Choir Concert was excellent. She complained about criminal activity at certain rental properties. She requested passage of a landlord license law.

Council President Halstad adjourned the Meeting at 9:00 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk