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

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
SEPTEMBER 9, 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 September 9, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Pecoraro, and Ferguson; Department Heads Beyard and Dutterer; City Attorney Walsh; Westminster City Police Chief Joneckis; and City Clerk Taylor were present.

MINUTES:

The Minutes of the Meeting of August 26, 2002, were approved on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and duly passed.

BIDS:

On Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the Council approved the bid of Kinsley Construction, Inc., in the amount of $2,848,000, for the Longwell Parking Garage and Locust Lane improvements project. The Motion and its adoption also included the appropriation of $92,000 from the City’s unappropriated surplus for the Longwell Parking Garage portion of the project to cover any differences, contingencies and inspection costs.

On Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the Council approved the bid of Mid-Atlantic Utilities, Inc., in the amount of $258,807.50, to replace water mains under East Green Street, 24th Street, and Madison Avenue. Mr. Beyard explained that traffic would continue to flow during the work, but that on occasion single lanes would be closed.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

… Read and presented to Coni Humphrey a Proclamation establishing the week of September 17 – 23, 2002, as Constitution Week.

… Announced that the Mayor and Council Chairman of Paide, Estonia would travel to Westminster on Saturday, September 22, 2002, for a visit of several days as part of the Sister City Program between the State of Maryland and Estonia, which is overseen by the National Guard. Mayor Dayhoff summarized the history behind and reasons for the Program. At the Mayor’s request, Mr. Beyard reviewed the itinerary for the visit. The Mayor thanked the business community for its generous sponsorship of the visit. He also thanked the Council members for their assistance in coordinating the itinerary and Mr. Beyard, Mr. Schroers, and Ms. Westbrook for their work.

… Reported that a remembrance observance would take place on September 11 at 6:45 P.M. at the Westminster Fire Hall commemorating September 11, 2001. The Westminster Band, the Red Cross, and the Police and Fire Departments worked as partners on the ceremony.

… Remarked that water consumption had declined and complimented the Utilities staff on their efforts.

… Announced that two dead crows infected with the West Nile Virus had recently been found in Westminster. Mayor Dayhoff introduced Larry Leitch, Director of the Carroll County Health Department. Mr. Leitch advised the Mayor and Common Council that the Health Department recommended against spraying insecticide for the present time, for several reasons. He informed them that research over the past three years indicates the West Nile Virus is a very mild disease for healthy people. The Mayor thanked Mr. Leitch and the Health Department for their assistance.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Finance:

Mr. Pecoraro asked for the minutes to reflect that money for the new retaining wall on Uniontown Road would come from the City’s Unallocated Surplus Fund. The allocation was approved at the August 12, 2002 meeting. Council President Halstad advised that the new City of Westminster flags had become available.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Council President Halstad and Mr. Beyard summarized the proposed Resolution No. 02-10 – Water Allocation Policy, and proposed Ordinance No. 686 – Exceptions to Water Allocation Policy. Because of the drought, the legislation would implement an allocation policy similar to that adopted in 1989 for sewer service. The allocation program would be monitored carefully and lifted when the water situation improved sufficiently. The proposed Ordinance excepts from the Water Allocation Policy projects that received final plat or site plan approval prior to September 1, 2002. Upon Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, Resolution No. 01-10 was introduced for First Reading. Upon Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, Ordinance No. 686 was introduced for First Reading.

Mr. Pecoraro moved to suspend the Rules of Order and Procedure to allow the simultaneous Introduction and Adoption of Resolution No. 02-11 – Approval of the Union Street Community Center Regarding the Neighborhood Partnership Program. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion, and the Council Members approved it unanimously. Upon Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and duly passed, Resolution No. 02-11, the text of which follows, was adopted.

Sponsored By: Kevin Dayhoff, Mayor

Damian Halstad, Council President

RESOLUTION NO. R02-11

RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF WESTMINSTER

SUBJECT:

Approval of the Union Street Community Center (25 Union Street) regarding the Neighborhood Partnership Program.

WHEREAS, the State of Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development ("Department") has established the Neighborhood Partnership Program ("NPP") for the purposes of:

1)

Assisting nonprofit organizations in carrying out approved projects to improve welfare, health and economic conditions in designated revitalization areas;

(2)

Encouraging businesses to make new or increased contributions to support community development projects in designated revitalization areas; and

(3) Strengthening private/public partnerships.

WHEREAS, the NPP can award tax credits to nonprofit organizations to be marketed to eligible Maryland businesses in exchange for contributions to achieve these purposes;

WHEREAS, the Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, proposes to undertake the Project described above;

WHEREAS, the Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc., has or is in the process of applying to the Department for approval of tax credits for business entities that contribute to the Project under the NPP; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster that it does hereby support the project and submittal of an application by the Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc., to the Department for participation in the NPP; and

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster that Resolution No. R02-11 shall become effective on the date of its passage and approval.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

At the request of Council President Halstad, Mr. Beyard summarized the current water situation. The Raw Reservoir level remained at 27 percent, more or less. The well at Roop’s Mill would go online once it received approval from the Maryland Department of the Environment. The City was moving ahead with testing at the Wakefield quarry and a text amendment to allocate water during times of shortage. Mr. Beyard further reported that the City had not needed to truck water thus far.

NEW BUSINESS:

On Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and duly passed, the Deed for the Cliveden Reach Stormwater Management Facility No. 2 was accepted.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Chief Joneckis announced that the Police Department received two grants. The first, in the amount of $6,000.00, enabled an officer to follow school buses and ensure that other vehicles complied with traffic safety regulations. The second grant would help fund several programs, including foot patrols, a Citizens’ Police Academy, the Westminster Elementary After-School Program, and a Spanish class. The Chief also reported that he sent letters inviting residents to attend the first Citizens’ Police Academy.

Mr. Beyard reported on several matters: that the work on Uniontown Road would begin within a few days; that work would soon begin on the Carroll Arts Center Marquee; that the Westminster Fallfest would take place from September 25 through September 29, 2002; and that his Department would hold a charette September 17 through September 20, 2002, to prepare a master plan for the Maryland Route 27 corridor from Tuc Road to south of Green Street.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

City residents and Historic District Commission members Laurie Walters and Kristen Stevens expressed their objections to the impending demolition by Westminster Union Bank of its property at 109 East Main Street. Council President Halstad informed them that City staff discussed other options with the Bank President, but that the final decision did not rest with the City. Mr. Ferguson observed that the process of approving demolitions should be studied and possibly modified in order to ensure the Historic District Commission would have an opportunity to explain tax credits and other amenities to property owners considering demolition. Council President Halstad agreed, and staff was requested to prepare a briefing for the next Meeting.

City resident Rose Blizzard inquired whether the City should build new parking lots when, in her view, downtown Westminster has a limited number of shopping establishments. Mr. Ruchlewicz explained that parking, as infrastructure, both draws retail business and serves employees in existing workplaces.

The Council President adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk