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

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
MARCH 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 March 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.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION:

Mayor Dayhoff introduced Mary Jane Benstein and Bob Cumberland of the Westminster Fire Department and Jo Ahalt, Steve Austin, and Dan Krause of State Farm Insurance Company. The State Farm representatives presented the Mayor and Common Council and the Westminster Fire Department with a 911 Simulator. The device educates the public on use of the 911 emergency system. Mr. Austin and several volunteers demonstrated the Simulator.

MINUTES:

Mr. Chiavacci proposed that, in the Minutes for February 24, 2003, the word “prosecution” in the discussion of nuisance actions be replaced with “court action.” Dr. Wack moved that the Minutes be approved as amended. Mr. Chiavacci seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

On Motion of Mr. Chiavacci, seconded by Dr. Wack, the Consent Calendar was approved, consisting of: 1) approval of June 7, 2003 as Art in the Park-Eric Byrd Day; 2) approval of a contract modification for the City’s Auditors; and 3) approval of a proposal to furnish banking services for credit card payments to the City. Mr. Ferguson recused himself from voting on the third item.

BIDS:

Council President Halstad summarized the successful bid to furnish solid waste collection and disposal for the City. In response to questions from Mr. Chiavacci and Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Beyard advised that the contract provides the City with remedies in the event the contractor fails to perform and that the contract does not allow the contractor to raise its price in the event fuel costs escalate. 

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

… Observed that the Maryland Municipal League quarterly dinner meeting held in Westminster on March 6, 2003 was very successful and thanked Ron Schroers for his efforts.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Mr. Chiavacci reported that a meeting with an attorney from the State’s Attorney’s Office concerning nuisance abatement had taken place and that he was waiting for the State’s Attorney’s Office to determine the extent to which it could participate in the process. He further stated that the group met with the Hagerstown Safety Committee. The Hagerstown Committee provided its nuisance abatement form letter to Westminster and would help out in the future.

Council President Halstad reported that the Council of Governments has been instituted. He will serve as President. The officers will meet on March 27, 2003.

Council President Halstad gave an account of the trip he and Mr. Beyard took to Estonia. Their schedule included several meetings with elected and appointed officials. Council President Halstad summarized the itinerary and some of the highlights of the trip. He thanked the Community Foundation for sponsoring his trip.

Turning to other matters concerning Estonia, Council President Halstad announced that Mrs. Audrey Cimino and the Eric Byrd Trio would perform at a music festival in Estonia in July. He added that the Children’s Chorus of Carroll County might travel to Estonia. Council President Halstad then thanked Melvin Mills for facilitating the trip to Westminster of the Estonian Girls’ Television Choir. The Mayor and Common Council presented a tour poster and video of their concert to Mr. Mills. Mr. Mills expressed his desire to remain involved and thanked his customers for making his contribution possible.

At Council President Halstad’s request, Mr. Jacob Yingling described meetings he attended to discuss potential for economic development in Estonia. Mr. Beyard announced that Ocean City and, subsequently, La Plata will be working towards establishing partner city programs with municipalities in Estonia. Mr. Beyard also noted that a family from Estonia would visit Westminster and the surrounding areas from March 14 through March 22, 2003. A local citizen generously sponsored their visit.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Council President Halstad summarized Resolution No. R03-4 – Rescission of Mandatory Drought Restrictions and Initiation of Drought Management Plan. The Resolution will cause the implementation of the City’s Drought Management Plan. Mayor Dayhoff thanked Mr. Beyard for his work on the Plan. Dr. Wack moved to suspend the Rules of Order and Procedure to adopt the Resolution. Mr. Chiavacci seconded, and the Motion passed unanimously. Mrs. Albert moved to Adopt the Resolution. Mr. Ferguson seconded, and the Motion passed unanimously. The text of the Resolution follows.

Sponsored By: Kevin E. Dayhoff, Mayor

Damian Halstad, Council President

RESOLUTION NO. R03-4

RESOLUTION of The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster:

SUBJECT: Rescission of Mandatory Drought Restrictions and Initiation of Drought Management Plan

WHEREAS, during last year in the year 2002 and the early parts of 2003 the City of Westminster experienced drought conditions which had adversely affected the availability of the City's water supply; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maryland also experienced drought conditions to such an extent that the Governor of Maryland issued mandatory drought restrictions which applied to Carroll County; and

WHEREAS, previously the City of Westminster adopted Resolution

Nos. R02-1 and R03-1 imposing mandatory drought restrictions; and

WHEREAS, previously the City of Westminster promulgated a Drought Management Plan by Resolution No. R02-5 which was to become effective upon the rescission of Resolution No. R02-1; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of Maryland has rescinded the Level I drought restrictions previously imposed upon various counties, including Carroll County; and

WHEREAS, the City of Westminster has benefited from recent abundant precipitation which has obviated the need for the previous drought restrictions contained in Resolution Nos. R02-1 and R03-1; and

WHEREAS, the City of Westminster desires to implement the requisites of the Drought Management Plan provided in Resolution Nos. R02-5.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF WESTMINSTER that:

Resolution No. R02-1 be and the same is hereby rescinded in its entirety; and

.Resolution No. R03-1 is hereby rescinded in its entirety; and

Resolution No. R02-5 remains in full force and effect as previously adopted on July 8, 2002, and takes effect immediately;

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster continues to encourage water conservation for its citizens and for all commercial uses;

AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster that this Resolution and Resolution No. R02-5 shall take effect immediately upon the passage and approval of this Resolution.

Council President Halstad summarized. Ordinance No. 698 – Parking Regulations – Municipal Parking Lots. The Ordinance will add the new parking garages to the City’s parking facilities and create a graduated fine schedule for parking violations. After discussion, staff was directed to add a provision that would give parking violators a clean slate if they went one year without receiving further violations. Upon Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Dr. Wack and unanimously passed, Ordinance No. 698 was Introduced.

Council President Halstad summarized Resolution No. 03-5 – Designation of Metered Parking Zones. The Ordinance establishes new rates for meters and increases the hours during which meters must be fed. Mr. Chiavacci moved to Introduce the Resolution. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

Council President Halstad next summarized Resolution No. 03-6 – Implementation of Parking Permits. Mrs. Albert moved to Introduce the Resolution. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

City resident James Billingslea remarked that a lower Pennsylvania Avenue resident was able to purchase the home she rented thanks to Mr. Ferguson and BB&T.

City resident Lori Graham thanked the Police Department and, in particular, Captain Kozak for swiftly extinguishing a small fire in her flower shop that she believed could otherwise have destroyed the building. She also announced that a second dance lesson grant had been awarded, to Heather Dorsey. She thanked Chief Joneckis for that as well.

Ms. Audrey Cimino, Director of the Carroll Community Foundation, thanked the police for furnishing a crossing guard on Railroad Avenue. She also thanked the Mayor and Common Council for the opportunity to perform in Estonia and noted that she was extremely proud to serve her community in that way.

City resident Rebekah Orenstein announced that three block parties were scheduled for June 14, June 28, and July 12, 2003. Each party would have a theme. Ms. Orenstein complained about drug sales on Pennsylvania Avenue and expressed her desire for the City immediately to implement landlord licensing.

Council President Halstad adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk