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MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
AUGUST 13, 2001

QUORUM:

A Meeting of The Mayor and Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 1838 Emerald Hill Lane, on the evening of August 13, 2001 at 7:00 p.m.Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson and Pecoraro; Department Heads Beyard and Joneckis; Supervisor of Accounting Dale Taylor; and City Attorney Walsh were present.

MINUTES:

The Minutes of the Meeting of July 23, 2001 were approved as presented, on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and duly passed.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Mayor Dayhoff conducted the Public Hearing on the Community Development Block Grant application in the amount of $35,000 for development of a Business Recruitment and Implementation Plan for Downtown Westminster.Mr. Pecoraro and Economic Development Specialist Stanley Ruchlewicz responded to the questions of WTTR Lane resident, Constance Humphrey, by stating that a consultant is needed to create a specific strategy to recruit business, as the phase II requirement of the previous Hyett-Palma Downtown Revitalization Report.No other persons offered comment at the Hearing, which was closed at 7:10 p.m.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

Mr. Chiavacci reviewed the proposed Special Deputy Sheriffs Agreement with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, seeking clarification of numerous provisions of the agreement allowing the City Police officers to operate within the adjacent County areas.Thereafter, on Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the consent Calendar was approved, consisting of the Special Deputy Sheriff’s Agreement, Police Department Operating Reports for June, and a street use permit.

BIDS:

On Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the low bid of $48,798, submitted by the URS Corporation of Wilmington, DE, shall be awarded the contract for Engineering Services for Replacement of Water Mains and Sewer Trunk Lines.The breakdown of expenditur4es is $18,940 from the water budget and $29,858 from the sewer budget.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

. . . advised of his participation in numerous meetings and events.

. . . noted that the Westminster Environs Transportation Study will be presented to The Mayor and on August 27, 2001.

RESOLUTIONS:

On Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, the Rules of Order and Procedure were suspended to allow the simultaneous Introduction and Enactment of Resolution No. R01-8.Thereafter, on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Chiavacci and unanimously passed, Resolution No. R01-8 was adopted, content of which follows:

RESOLUTION NO. R01-8

RESOLUTION of The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster

SUBJECT: SUBMISSION OF A MARYLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM APPLICATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN WESTMINSTER

WHEREAS, the State of Maryland through the Department of Housing and Community Development has solicited applications from eligible jurisdictions to apply for funding under the Maryland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program; and

WHEREAS, the City of Westminster is eligible to apply for funds from the Maryland CDBG Program through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development; and

WHEREAS, the City of Westminster desires to apply for funds for the development of a Business Recruitment and Implementation Plan for Downtown Westminster; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster has held the required public hearing related to the formulation of the City of Westminster’s Block Grant Application.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster that it authorizes the submittal of an application for Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00) for the development of a Business Recruitment and Implementation Plan for Downtown Westminster; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The Mayor is authorized and empowered to execute any and all documents required for the submission of the application subject to the recommendation of the Director of the Department of Planning and Public Works and the City Attorney; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by The Mayor and common Council of Westminster that this Resolution shall become effective upon its passage and approval.

INTRODUCED THIS 13THDAY OF AUGUST, 2001.

_________________________

John D. Dudderar, City Clerk

PASSED THIS 13THDAY OF AUGUST, 2001.

__________________________

John D. Dudderar, City Clerk

APPROVED THIS 13THDAY OF AUGUST, 2001.

__________________________

Kevin E. Dayhoff, Mayor

Approved as to form and legal

sufficiency this 2ndday

of August, 2001,

__________________________

John B.Walsh, Jr. City Attorney

for the City of Westminster

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Council President Halstad advised that an Ad Hoc Committee will be appointed, to assist in recommending an appropriate location for the proposed new City Arts and Entertainment District.

NEW BUSINESS:

A closed meeting was scheduled to immediately follow the regular session on Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mrs. Albert and unanimously passed to consider the acquisition of real property for public purpose, to discuss a personnel matter, and matters directly related thereto, as authorized in Section 10-508 (a) (1) & (3) of the State Government Article of the annotated Code of Maryland.

Corporal Keith Benfer presented the new redesigned and expanded Police Department Web Site. Completely donated by the Baltimore Firm, e.magination network, llc.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

The closed meeting held at 8:15 p.m. immediately following the regular session in City Hall was attended by Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson and Pecoraro; Department Heads Beyard and Joneckis; and City Attorney Walsh.A unanimous vote authorized the meeting to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, to discuss a personnel matter and matters directly related thereto, as authorized in Section 10-508 (a) (1) & (3) of the State government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Chief Joneckis and Cpl. Benfer reported on the following activities:very successful National Night Out on Crime program; participating sponsor of the recent Camp Cops program for kids, held at the Carroll County Farm Museum; and winner of the First Place trophy in a contest for the best looking in-use marked patrol car.

Mr. Beyard advised of the following matters; engineering work to begin on the parking deck this week; raw water reservoir is currently 80% full; and the new Carfaro Well will be on-line next month.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

South Ralph Street resident Velva Cooper, spoke favorably of the Police Department’s revamped Web site, and suggested using it to recruit minority personnel.

County resident, Beatrice Wolf, complained of the poor service of the Adelphia Cable Company.Mr. Pecoraro, a member of the Cable Regulatory Commission, stated that commission is in the process of imposing fines on the Cable Company, as a penalty for unacceptable customer service.

ADJOURN:

The Council President adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.

JOHN D. DUDDERAR

City Clerk