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

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
 JUNE 10, 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 June 10, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, and Pecoraro; Department Heads Beyard, Dutterer, and Joneckis; City Attorney Walsh; and City Clerk Taylor were present.

MINUTES:

The Minutes of the Meeting of May 13, 2002, were approved as presented on Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro, and duly passed.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Mayor Dayhoff conducted a Public Hearing on the proposed Zoning Text Amendment No. TA02-1, Ordinance No. 679 – “Zoning with Conditions, Restrictions or Limitations.” At the request of the Mayor, City Planning and Public Works Director Beyard presented the background and a summary of the proposed Ordinance. There being no further comment, the Mayor closed the Public Hearing and record at 7:05 p.m.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

On Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and duly passed, the Consent Calendar was approved, consisting of the authorization to furnish utility service to the Maple Crest development, located off of Hook Road in Carroll County.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Committee on Finance:

Mr. Pecoraro presented the Annual Audit Proposal from Rager, Lehman & Houck, P.C., and moved that the proposal be accepted. Mr. Chiavacci seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Pecoraro moved that twenty thousand dollars of unappropriated surplus from the Budget be appropriated to finance the Public Safety Committee’s ongoing study of the Police pension options. Mr. Chiavacci seconded, and the Motion passed.

Mr. Pecoraro introduced the proposed Carroll County Cable Regulatory Commission Budget for the upcoming fiscal year. He explained that the City of Westminster calculates its contribution to the budget based on subscriptions rather than on the dedicated revenue stream proposed by the Commission. Mr. Pecoraro moved that the proposed Budget be approved, subject to the final Budget containing the City calculation of its contribution. Mrs. Albert seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Pecoraro advised that the Community Media Center, which is currently located in the basement of Carroll Community College, would like two million dollars for a new facility. The initial estimate for the new facility was one million dollars. Mr. Pecoraro stated that he does not consider it advisable for the Cable Regulatory Commission to become too involved with debt service payments.

Mr. Pecoraro noted that the Parking Committee held its first meeting and that the next meeting would take place in early July.

Public Safety:

Mr. Chiavacci advised that the Committee was continuing to study pension enhancement options for the Westminster City Police.

Council President Halstad noted that the inaugural meeting of the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative Committee would take place on June 12, 2002, at 7:00 p.m.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Upon Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded Mrs. Albert and duly passed, Resolution No. 01-11 was adopted, providing for annexation of the property known as Roop’s Mill into the City of Westminster. The Annexation will take effect 46 days following adoption of the Resolution. In a related matter, Mr. Pecoraro moved for the Introduction of Ordinance No. 684, providing for the zoning of the Roop’s Mill Property. Mrs. Albert seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Beyard summarized Ordinance No. 683 – Amendments to Chapter No. l60, “Water,” – and Resolution No. R02-5 – Drought Management Plan. The proposed Ordinance establishes more severe penalties than those currently in place for failure to observe water use restrictions. The Resolution establishes a three-stage Drought Management Plan that will apply when no State restrictions are in effect. The status of the Water Drought Plan will be posted on the web page of the City. In two separate Motions, Mr. Chiavacci moved for the Introduction of Ordinance No. 683 and the Adoption of Resolution No. 02-5. Mrs. Albert seconded each Motion, and they were unanimously approved. Mr. Beyard thanked his staff, including Jeff Glass, Mike Zechman, Paula Martin, and Shawn Siders, as well as City Attorney Walsh, for their work.

Mr. Pecoraro moved for the Introduction of Resolution No. R02-5, pertaining to the annexation of land known as the Emmert Property. Mrs. Albert seconded the Motion, and it was unanimously passed.

Upon Motion by Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and duly passed, the Common Council approved the Introduction of Ordinance No. 679 – Zoning with Conditions, Restrictions or Limitations.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mr. Beyard presented the City Property Maintenance Code First Year Report. He observed that the Code has functioned well during its first year. He recommended changes to the Code in regard to facades of buildings that are owner-occupied; registration of rental properties; and registration of rental agents. Upon Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and duly passed, staff was directed to draft the proposed changes for presentation at a future meeting.

Mr. Chiavacci moved to conduct a closed session following the Meeting, pursuant to Section 10-508(a)(3) and (7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, in order to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto, and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice. Mr. Pecoraro seconded, and the Motion was approved.

Mr. Pecoraro moved to cancel the Meeting of the Mayor and Common Council scheduled for June 24, 2002, because of the scheduling conflict with the Maryland Municipal League Convention. Mrs. Albert seconded the Motion, and it was approved.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

Several City residents and other interested persons attended the Meeting to comment about potential residential development of an 8.08-acre parcel known as the Arnold property and located at the end of Arnold Drive, west of King Park. Mr. Beyard explained that Eastern Seaboard Financial reportedly holds a contract to purchase the property, but that no subdivision or other development plan has yet been submitted either to the City or the County. Eastern Seaboard has indicated that it will seek to annex the property in order for it to become eligible for City utility services. Residents expressing concern about the effect of development of the property were County resident Eileen Foster and City residents Lisa Breslin, Rebekah Orenstein, Wendy Cook, Nelson Clark, Tom Bethune, Linda Rill, Rose Blizzard, Robert Chester, and Jim Breslin. They cited a number of concerns, including environmental impacts, stormwater drainage problems – both current and future, traffic impacts, and the need for the property to be annexed into the City. Mr. Beyard explained the annexation process. He noted that the property could not be developed for probably at least one year, and that several opportunities for public input would occur during that time. He further remarked that he and Mr. Pecoraro had spoken with the owner’s representative about the possibility of the City purchasing a portion of the property for expansion of King’s Park if the current contract expired. Mrs. Breslin added that she was looking into the possibility of neighboring properties buying some of the remaining land if the Park expansion became possible.

The closed meeting held at 9:30 p.m. following the regular session in City Hall was attended by Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, and Pecoraro; Department Head Beyard; City Attorney Walsh; and City Clerk Taylor. A unanimous vote authorized the meeting to discuss land acquisition and to obtain legal advice pursuant to subsections 10-508(a)(3) and (7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Police Chief Joneckis announced that Drug Action ’02 applied for special event permits for block parties on four consecutive Saturday nights on Pennsylvania Avenue beginning on June 15, 2002. Upon Motion by Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Chiavacci and duly passed, the permits were approved.

Mr. Chiavacci advised the Ron Schroers is preparing a Code of Conduct for participants in recreation programs.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

Several residents of Parr’s Ridge complained about the lack of full city services in their community. Joe Mish presented a Petition on the residents’ behalves requesting more services. President of the Condominium Association, Ruth Offenstein, asked City representatives to consider furnishing trash removal service, at the least.

Ms. Orenstein thanked Chief Joneckis for helping her obtain permits for the Pennsylvania Avenue block parties. She asked the Mayor and Council to consider purchasing a banner to be placed across Pennsylvania Avenue displaying neighborhood pride. Ms. Orenstein also requested them to remember that the purpose of registering or licensing landlords is protection.

The Council President adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk