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

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
MARCH 11, 2002

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 11, 2002, at 7:00 p.m.Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson and Pecoraro; Department Heads Beyard, Dutterer, and Joneckis; City Attorney Walsh; and City Clerk Taylor were present.

MINUTES:

The Minutes of the Meeting of February 25, 2002, were approved as presented on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and duly passed.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

… Advised that problems with the cable service from Adelphia have

continued and that, consequently, the City will convert to a less expensive but comparable wireless DSL service in the near future.

… Summarized upcoming events of public interest, including the groundbreaking ceremony for Westminster Square on Friday, March 22, at 9:00 a.m. and the Summer Slam car show series.

… Commended employees Carol Baublitz, Denise Russ, Marianne

Sheehan, and Laurie Womer on receiving Certificates of Achievement in Office Administration Training from the Carroll Community College; and employee Stanley Ruchlewicz for the quality of his work.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR: (Continued)

… Expressed concern about an apparent change of policy in Countygovernment with respect to the annexation process, and his intention to meet with the County in order to discuss annexation and other growth-related issues.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Public Safety:

Mr. Chiavacci remarked that he had received a letter from a local attorney, William Dulany, thanking Officers Reifsnider and Hooper of the Police Department for their response upon noticing a suspicious situation at Mr. Dulany’s office on Main Street.

Finance:

Mr. Pecoraro summarized the schedule for preparation and adoption of the budget for fiscal year 2002-2003.

Mr. Pecoraro reported that the Carroll Cable Regulatory Commission is seeking an additional source of funds for its community access building.He advised the Commission that City funds currently are not available.

Mr. Pecoraro advised that the County Commissioners have requested the municipalities to allow les new houses to be built.However, a review of building permits issued during the last five years revealed that, while Westminster contains 11 percent of the County’s population, only 7.5 percent of the building permits issued throughout the County were for homes in Westminster.

NEW BUSINESS:

On motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and unanimously passed, the following people were appointed to the newly-formed Parking Committee:Councilman Tom Ferguson as the Council Representative; Thomas Beyard, the Director of Planning and Public Works; Stan Ruchlewicz, the Economic Development Specialist; Major Dean Brewer, the Police Department Representative; David Max of the Greater Westminster Development Corporation; Craig Scott of the Westminster Business Association; Lynn Aaron of the Westminster Business Association; Edward Gottleib, the Vice President of BB&T; Audrey Cimino from the Community Foundation of Carroll County; Kevin Bell of the Westminster Business Association; Mark Polhaus of Westminster Union Bank; and Councilman Greg Pecoraro as Chairman of the Committee.The Committee is charged with seeking innovative ways to increase the parking revenue stream by developing a five- and ten-year plan covering parking management, parking rates, access, and related issues.

NEW BUSINESS: (Continued)

Mr. Beyard reported on the results of an ad hoc committee comprising representatives from the City Council, the Greater Westminster Development Corporation, the Westminster Town Center Corporation, the Director of Planning and Public Works, and the City Attorney.The Committee addressed economic development and neighborhood revitalization issues.The goal of the Committee was to create a more effective partnership among the City, the GWDC, and the WTCC.

A closed meeting was scheduled immediately to follow the regular session on Motion of Mr. Chiavacci, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, and unanimously passed, to discuss personnel matters and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, as authorized in Section 10-508(a)(1) and 10-508 (a)(7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

The closed meeting held at 8:30 p.m. following the regular session in City Hall was attended by Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson and Pecoraro; Department Heads Dutterer and Joneckis; City Attorney Walsh; attorney Matt Mellin; and City Clerk Taylor.A unanimous vote authorized the meeting to discuss personnel matters and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice as authorized in Section 10-508(a)(1) and 10-508(a)(7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Mr. Beyard noted that the City reservoir is 57% filled.The City Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for March 23, 2002.Mr. Beyard also summarized statistics for complaints and citations under the Property Maintenance Code.

Mr. Beyard remarked that the City has received five new water permits from the State.The bonds for the new parking deck were sold at 4.48%, a favorable rate.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

Mr. Frank Rauschenberg, on behalf of the Local Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, expressed the desire of several officers, some of who were in attendance, to participate in the pension study process.Mayor Dayhoff assured Mr. Rauschenberg that the Mayor would be in contact once the discussion with accountants and lawyers had occurred.

Mr. Wendell Harris, of Bishop Street, observed that a need exists for a daycare facility for children with special needs.Mayor Dayhoff and Council President Halstad thanked him for the information and requested that he forward to the Mayor’s Office information about such a program in Baltimore County.

CITIZEN COMMENTS: (Continued)

County resident Beatrice Wolf stated that a traffic light should be installed on Cranberry Road near the elementary school.She also inquired about a vacant store in the Town Mall.

ADJOURN:

The Council President adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk