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MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND SEPTEMBER 23, 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 23, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Chiavacci, 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 September 9, 2002, were approved on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and duly passed. Mr. Chiavacci, who was unable to attend the Meeting of September 9, 2002, abstained.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

On Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and duly passed, the Council approved the Consent Calendar, consisting of Bids for the City Park Pavilion Project; the approval of Good Cause Waivers No. GCW 02-1 and No. GCW 02-3; and the August Departmental Operating Reports. Mrs. Albert abstained.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

… Introduced Mayor Tonis Koiv and Council Chairman Andres Jalak of Paide, Estonia, as well as Lieutenant Colonel Larry Betz and Major George Spence of the Maryland National Guard. Paide and Westminster are forming a Partner City Program with the support and encouragement of the Maryland National Guard.

… Read a Proclamation, which Mayor Koiv also read in Estonian, as follows:

MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION

PAIDE, ESTONIA WEEK, September 21-27, 2002

WHEREAS, the State of Maryland (“Maryland”) and the Republic of Estonia (“Estonia”) initiated a partnership in 1993 in the aftermath of the breakup of the Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, this ongoing partnership has included numerous military, cultural, business, governmental, educational and official exchanges; and

WHEREAS, one important initiative of this ongoing partnership is the partner city program, which pairs similar Maryland and Estonian municipalities to engage in mutual projects and programs; and

WHEREAS, City of Westminster (“Westminster”) officials traveled to Paide, Estonia (“Paide) in June, 2002 to lay the groundwork for a partner city program with Paide and invite Paide officials to visit Westminster; and

REPORTS FROM MAYOR: (Continued)

WHEREAS, Paide officials traveled to Westminster in September, 2002 to initiate a partner city program with Westminster.

NOW, THEREFORE, let it be known that, I, Kevin E. Dayhoff, Mayor of the City of Westminster, do hereby declare the week of September 21-27, 2002 as:

“PAIDE, ESTONIA WEEK”

in honor of Paide Mayor Tonis Koiv and Paide Council Chairman Andres Jalak’s visit to Westminster from September 21-27, 2002 and their attendance at the official meeting of The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster on Monday, September 23, 2002.

Signed at City Hall this

Twenty-third day of September

In the Year Two Thousand Two.

KEVIN E. DAYHOFF Mayor

… Presented gifts to the Estonian guests commemorating their visit to Westminster and applauded staff’s work in arranging the visit.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Public Safety:

Mr. Chiavacci announced that the Police Pension Subcommittee would meet on September 24, 2002. It would hold one more meeting after that, and would issue its Report in November. Council President Halstad noted that the Pennsylvania Avenue Initiative Committee completed its work and would forward a report to the Mayor and Common Council on October 1, 2002.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

With regard to Resolution No. 02-10 – Water Allocation Policy, and proposed Ordinance No. 686 – Exceptions to Water Allocation Policy, City Attorney Walsh remarked that the Ordinance had been amended since its Introduction to except from allocation requirements development and preliminary plans that have received approval. Mr. Pecoraro expressed his hope that the County Government would begin taking the water shortage as seriously as the City did. He noted the public needs to understand that only those projects already approved will be under construction. On Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the Council adopted Resolution No. R02-10 and Ordinance No. 686, as amended.

At the request of Council President Halstad, Mr. Beyard summarized Ordinance No. 687 – Historic Buildings. An applicant for a permit to demolish a building in the Westminster Historic

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: (Continued)

District will be required to speak with the City Planner, the Economic Development Administrator, and the Rehabilitation Coordinator about possible tax credits, financing, rehabilitation programs, and related matters, as a prerequisite to receiving permit approval. Mr. Pecoraro recommended that, with regard to buildings scheduled for demolition, an archive of photos, drawings, floor plans, and similar materials be assembled. He further suggested that methods of salvaging special architectural features, such as mantelpieces, be explored.

Mr. Ferguson made a Motion to Introduce Ordinance No. 687, and Mr. Pecoraro seconded the Motion. Mr. Ferguson urged the Historic District Commission to increase public awareness of historic buildings. Mayor Dayhoff suggested that an inventory of at-risk buildings be created. All Council Members voted “aye” to Introduce the Ordinance. It was agreed that the Ordinance would be placed on the October 14, 2002 agenda for a Public Hearing and for Adoption.

NEW BUSINESS:

Council President Halstad noted that the Maryland National Guard drafted a Declaration of Friendship between Paide and Westminster. Mayor Koiv and Mayor Dayhoff formally executed the Declaration, the text of which follows:

DECLARATION OF FRIENDSHIP

Be it known that upon the occasion of the visit to the State of Maryland of the United States of America by the delegation from the Republic of Estonia, we, the representatives of Westminster and Paide, in a gesture of goodwill, agree to develop a deeper friendship

between our two cities, fostering cooperation and understanding, and exploring educational,

economic and cultural opportunities.

We thank the Maryland National Guard for helping us arrive at this international declaration of friendship and we expect the Estonian Kaitseliit and the Maryland National Guard to remain active supporters in the development of our friendship.

We hold the firm belief that our friendship will promote cooperation between Estonia and the United States, and that it will make a contribution toward the peace and prosperity of our world.

NEW BUSINESS: (Continued)

_____________________________ ________________________________

Tõnis Kõiv Kevin Dayhoff

Mayor of the City of Paide Mayor of the City of Westminster

Järva County State of Maryland

Republic of Estonia United States of America

Signed on September 23, 2002 in Maryland

Council President Halstad summarized the Declaration of Understanding. He explained that the Mayor and Council President of Paide would take the Declaration to Paide with them for their full Council’s consideration and approval. On Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, the Declaration of Understanding was approved. The text of the Declaration follows.

DECLARATION OF UNDERSTANDING

The purpose of this Declaration of Understanding is to affirm the goodwill and spirit of cooperation and initiate a partner city program between The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster, State of Maryland, United States of America (“Westminster”), and Paide Town Government, Paide, Republic of Estonia (“Paide”).

Westminster and Paide agree to the following initiatives and objectives:

1. To explore and promote opportunities for cooperation between Westminster and

Paide.

2. To define and develop the following areas of cooperation:

a. Culture

b. Economic development

c. Government

d. Education

e. Philanthropy

3. Undertake the following initiatives within the framework of the areas referenced

above:

a. Culture:

- - Jointly identify a song/dance performer(s) from Paide to travel to

Westminster to perform at the new Carroll Arts Center.

- - Jointly identify a song/dance performer(s) from Westminster to

travel to Paide to perform at a designated Paide event.

b. Economic development:

- - Jointly identify a group of five or more business people from

select Westminster industries to travel to Paide to provide an economic development assessment, technical assistance and review investment opportunities.

- - Jointly identify a group of five or more business people from

select Paide industries to travel to Westminster and visit key

similar businesses.

- - Jointly develop tourism exchange opportunities to promote Paide

NEW BUSINESS: (Continued)

and Estonia and Westminster, Carroll County and Maryland as exciting tourist destinations.

c. Government

- Jointly continue official exchange visits of municipal leaders.

Westminster commits to at least one visit per year of at least

two officials.

- - Jointly conduct a municipal exchange whereby Westminster and

Paide “swap” employees to gain new insights into municipal problem-solving.

- - Jointly conduct an exchange of summer recreation employees

to facilitate new program ideas and improve staff skills.

- Work to generate cooperation between the

Maryland Municipal League and the Association of Estonian

Cities.

d. Education

- - Jointly identify at least two Estonian students per year to attend university at Carroll Community College and McDaniel College.

- - Jointly identify students to participate in a exchange program to provide unique learning opportunities and perspectives to young citizens in Westminster and Paide.

- - Jointly identify students to participate in a “pen pal” program to

include exchanges of letters.

e. Philanthropy

- - Jointly identify a project in Paide for partial sponsorship

by Westminster. Westminster initially pledges $1,000 toward the

development of a skatepark facility in Paide, with funds to be

distributed when the project is completed.

- - Westminster will coordinate staff support and technical

assistance to establish a community foundation in Paide to

provide the organization to generate private funding for important community projects.

- - Jointly work to coordinate an exchange of select Rotary Club

members from Westminster and Paide.

4. Westminster will employ, subject to visa approval and other normal employment considerations, an Estonian citizen in a special work-study initiative to coordinate our relations with Paide and perform other important duties as a full-time Westminster employee.

5. Westminster and Paide will work to assist public, private and non-profit organizations in establishing cooperative links with similar partners in Estonia or Maryland when asked to do so.

6. Westminster and Paide will facilitate the establishment of a contact network to support the development and implementation of cooperative undertakings.

7. Westminster and Paide hereby designate the following points of contact for the coordination of projects and activities:

a. Westminster

Mr. Thomas B. Beyard

Director of Planning and Public Works

City of Westminster

P.O. Box 710

Westminster, MD 21158

410-848-9002 (O)

410-596-8795 (Mobile)

410-876-0299 (Fax)

tbeyard@westgov.com

NEW BUSINESS: (Continued)

b. Paide

Mr. Margo Uusen

Counsellor of Economy and Project Compose

Paide Town Government

Parnu 3

72712 Paide

Republic of Estonia

372 38 38 615

372 51 16 934 (GSM)

372 38 38 622 (Fax)

margo.uusen@paide.ee

These contact people are responsible for exchanging information and organizing communication as relates to overall coordination between Westminster and Paide. Any changes to the names of contact people or addresses shall be promptly reported to the other party.

8. This Declaration of Understanding shall become effective on the date it has been approved by Westminster and Paide. This Declaration of Understanding shall be reviewed at least yearly and modified as required.

9. This Declaration of Understanding is signed in two original copies, with one original signed copy provided to Westminster and Paide.

The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster Paide Town Government

Kevin E. Dayhoff Tonis Koiv

Mayor Mayor

Date: ______________ Date: _______________

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

At the request of Mr. Dutterer, former Mayor Kenneth A. Yowan read a letter by Mr. Dutterer in which he announced his retirement as Director of Finance effective June 30, 2003. Mr. Dutterer advised that a tentative transition plan had been formulated. The Mayor, the Council Members, Chief Joneckis, Mr. Walsh, and Mr. Beyard paid tribute to Mr. Dutterer and wished him a happy retirement.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

Former Council Member Rebekah Orenstein lauded Mr. Dutterer for his integrity, kindness and professionalism. County resident Beatrice Wolf congratulated Mr. Dutterer. Former Mayor Yowan thanked the Mayor for inviting him to meet the guests from Paide and for the opportunity to read Mr. Dutterer’s retirement announcement.

The Council President adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk