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

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
AUGUST 27, 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 27, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson and Pecoraro; Department Heads Beyard, Dutterer and Joneckis; and City Attorney Walsh were present.

MINUTES:

The Minutes of the Meeting of August 13, 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 Sectional Map Amendment No. SMA01-1, providing for the rezoning of portions of the Koontz Property, located in the vicinity of MD Rt. 140 and MD Rt. 97N. Mr. Ferguson recused himself from participating in the discussion of the map amendment case. Mr. Beyard presented the favorable Staff Report on the proposal, stating the rezoning of the parcels from the R-20,000 Residential Zone to the R-10,000 Residential Zone is in compliance with the 1998 adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. Attorney, Clark Shaffer, representing Wyndtryst Development Corp. presented a concept plan for development of the 71-acre tract, containing 188 single family detached residences. The plan contains open space and landscaped buffers with the average lot size to be 13,000 square feet. The following persons testified in opposition to the Amendment: Kathryn and Russell Morgan, 546 Wyndwood Drive; Frank Wagner, 930 Burning Tree Court; Bill Yost submitted written comments, 693 Charingworth Court; Todd Brown, 613 Thornbury Court; Rich Bowie, 589 Thornbury Road; David and Connie Humphrey, 41 WTTR Lane; and Edmund Klebe, Augusta Avenue. Attorney, Charles Hollman, on behalf of his client the Koontz family, and the developer’s representative, Jon Mayers; both spoke in favor of the rezoning proposal. City Attorney Walsh cautioned the Council not to participate in ex parte or private communications with the public regarding the Sectional Map Amendment case. Mayor Dayhoff closed the Public Hearing at 8:05 p.m., stating the record thereof will remain open for ten (10) days for written comments. The Hearing proceedings were recorded and the transcript thereof will be a part of the case file.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

The Consent Calendar was approved, on Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and duly passed, consisting of July Departmental Operating Reports and the American Legion sponsored Halloween Parade to be held on October 30, 2001.

BIDS:

The following actions were taken in connection with the Westminster Jaycee Park Play Equipment bid, on Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Chiavacci and unanimously passed: award low bid of West Recreation, Inc., in the amount of $14,925 for the purchase of the Game Time Tot Time Play Structure; transfer $15,000 of unused funds in the Longwell Municipal Center playground equipment account to the Jaycee Park equipment account, to pay for the new equipment.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

. . . advised of the recent swearing-in of three new police officers.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Parks Board:

Mr. Chiavacci presented several, items of Parks Board business, highlighting the very successful new, free outdoor movie nights in the City Park, and Fallfest 2001 to be held on Wednesday (parade night), September 26, 2001 through Sunday, September 30, 2001.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Mr. Pecoraro presented the Lease Agreement by and between The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster (Landlord) and the Carroll County Arts Council, Inc. (Tennant). The $1.00 per year lease provides for the use and management of the former Carroll Theater Building, located at 91 West Main Street, by the Carroll Arts Center for a period of thirty years. Thereafter, on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, the Lease Agreement was approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

Whitney, Bailey, Cox and Magnani transportation planner, Todd Lang, presented the Westminster and Environs Transportation Plan Update. The State’s decision to abandon the long planned Westminster bypass project has created the need to pursue alternatives to provide adequate local trips in the Westminster area. The plan is basically in the information gathering stage, studying various roadway segment options to provide a network of future connections. Members of the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission were in attendance at the briefing. Mayor Dayhoff specifically requested that Tahoma Farm Road not be used as part of a ring road system.

Confirmation of the Mayoral appointment of Kevin W. Beaver to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission, was Moved by Mr. Chiavacci, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed. Mr. Beaver will serve the remainder of Councilman Chiavacci’s term on the Commission, ending in May 2002.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

The Greens resident, Brian Hogan, asked what was the cost of acquiring the former Carroll Theater property. Mr. Beyard advised that the purchase price was $310,000 paid for by P.O.S. (Program Open Space) funds.

Margaret Bair, a resident of 108 Willis Street, suggested that the tot lot play equipment in the Playground needs upgrading.

ADJOURN:

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. by the Council President.

JOHN D. DUDDERAR

City Clerk