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

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
NOVEMBER 11, 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 November 11, 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.

At the request of Council President Halstad, the Administrator of Recreation and Activities, Ron Schroers, presented checks in the amount of $3,000.00 each to the following charities: the Carroll County Children’s fund, the Kiwanis Club of Westminster, the Mission of Mercy, and Residents Attacking Drugs. The checks represented proceeds of the 24th Westminster Fallfest. Mr. Schroers thanked the Fallfest Board Members for their efforts and dedication. He announced that the 25th Fallfest, in September 2003, would be preceded by a black-tie fundraising event on February 15, 2003, at Martin’s Westminster.

MINUTES:

The Minutes of the Meeting of October 28, 2002, were approved on Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Chiavacci, and duly passed.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Mayor Dayhoff conducted a Public Hearing on the proposed McDaniel College 2002 Bond Issue. He introduced bond attorneys Patricia Carroll and Herman Rosenthal of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston L.L.P. Mr. Rosenthal explained that the $20,000,000 Bond would be used by the College to finance improvements at the College and refund certain debt of the College, all as detailed in a letter dated November 11, 2002 from the College to the Mayor and Common Council. The Bond is a revenue bond and, therefore, not backed by the full faith and credit of the City of Westminster. There being no further comment, the Mayor closed the Hearing at 7:43 p.m.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

Mr. Pecoraro moved to approve the Consent Calendar, consisting of approval of road closings for the Holiday House Tour and Good Cause Waiver Case No. GCW 02-5 – the Young property. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously. At Mr. Pecoraro’s request, City Planner Siders noted that the Holiday House Tour included six houses on West Green Street and locations on the McDaniel College Campus. Proceeds from the tour would be donated to the Rape Crisis Center and Shepherd’s Staff.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

… Read a Proclamation for Veteran’s Day and thanked all veterans in attendance.

… Noted with regret the passing of World War II veteran and hero Lieutenant Farinholt on June 17, 2002.

… Read a Proclamation making November 2002 Hospice Month and National Home Care

Month.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Mr. Ferguson reported that a very well-attended fundraising event for the Arc of Carroll County was held at Westminster High School.

Mr. Pecoraro announced that the Parking Committee would hold a meeting on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 and would start making decisions in the near future.

Council President Halstad observed that the Raw Reservoir Level had risen to 53.8 percent.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Mrs. Albert made a Motion to Introduce Resolution No. R02-12 – McDaniel College 2002 Bond Issue, which Mr. Ferguson seconded. Mr. Chiavacci reiterated that the bond did not cause the City to incur any liability. The Motion passed unanimously.

At the request of Council President Halstad, Mr. Beyard summarized Ordinance No. 687, concerning building demolition within the historic district. He further summarized amendments to the Ordinance since its Introduction. The Ordinance will apply to individual properties on the State and Federal Registers, not just to properties within historic districts. Also, there will be an archiving process with photography and other documentation of historic properties an owner does demolish. Information will be sent to the Mayor and Staff when an application to demolish is received. Mr. Pecoraro moved to amend the Ordinance as described by Mr. Beyard, Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously. Mr. Pecoraro moved to adopt the Ordinance as amended. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously.

Mrs. Albert moved to adopt Ordinance No. 689 – Adoption of the 2002 Code. Mr. Pecoraro seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Beyard summarized Resolution No. 02-4 (Annexation No. 49) – Ridge Terrace/Windsor Overlook Annexation and Ordinance No. 691 pertaining to the R –10,000 zoning of the property. Mr. Ferguson moved to adopt Resolution No. 02-4. Mr. Pecoraro seconded, and the Resolution was unanimously adopted. Mr. Pecoraro moved to Introduce Ordinance No. 691, Mrs. Albert seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Beyard next summarized Resolution No. 02-3 (Annexation No. 45) – Emmert Property Annexation and Ordinance No. 692 – zoning of Emmert Property. The property lies between the Airport and the Cliveden Reach Subdivision. The property will be zoned R-20, 000, Conservation, and I-R Restricted Industrial. Mr. Pecoraro noted that the total number of residential lots would be less under the City Zoning than it was under the zoning of the County. Mr. Ferguson moved to adopt Resolution No. 02-3. Mr. Pecoraro seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously. Mr. Pecoraro moved to adopt Ordinance No. 692, Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously.

Council President Halstad summarized Resolution No. 02-13 – Implementation of Parking Permits. Parking has been scarce since construction began of the Longwell Parking Deck. The proposed Resolution would give the Director of Planning and Public Works, subject to approval of the Mayor and Common Council, authority to make adjustments and changes to the location and charges for permit parking in the City on a temporary basis. Mr. Pecoraro moved to suspend The Rules of Order and Procedure in order to adopt Resolution No. 02-13, which was seconded by Mr. Ferguson and duly passed. Mr. Pecoraro moved to adopt Resolution No. 02-13. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion and the Resolution was unanimously adopted.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Mr. Pecoraro moved to accept the Deed for Westminster Highlands, Section 2 Water and Sewer Facilities. Mr. Chiavacci seconded, and the Motion passed unanimously.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Chief Joneckis reported he had received a note from a Westminster Elementary School student praising the Police in the Police Education and Recreation for Kids (“PERK”) program. He also noted that the first Citizen Academy would hold its graduation ceremony on Saturday, November 16, 2002, at 1:00 p.m. and that Sergeant Bible would be conducting the Citizens on Patrol Program.

Mr. Beyard announced that the City was awarded two grants under the Community Legacy Program, one in the amount of $450,000 for the Union Street Community Center and the other in the amount $61,000 for Pennsylvania Avenue street lighting.

Council President Halstad observed that the current pension system for City Police might not be competitive. Councilman Chiavacci introduced the results of the study of a Westminster City Police Pension Enhancement program. He explained that the subcommittee, which met monthly, included ten sworn officers as well as others. He thanked Chief Joneckis, City Attorney Walsh, and attorney Matt Mellon. Mr. Chiavacci announced that the group had concluded that the State Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System (“LEOPS”) program should be adopted effective in July 2003.

Mr. Chiavacci gave a power point presentation detailing the reasons the Police should receive pension enhancements; the pros and cons of the various options, and recommendations for adopting and funding LEOPS. Captain Koczak thanked the Mayor and Common Council for the opportunity to study enhancement options. Chief Joneckis voiced his conviction that LEOPS would furnish a good hiring and retention incentive. Mr. Chiavacci stated that if the Mayor and Common Council approved the recommendation by consensus, he would have an ordinance drafted signaling to the State the intention of the City to adopt LEOPS.

Various aspects of the present and future funding of the system were discussed. Mr. Pecoraro remarked that, while an increase in the City’s assessable tax base was anticipated, an increase in taxes might become necessary in the future. Mr. Ferguson noted that funding the LEOPS program would require a permanent increase in the City’s Annual Budget. By consensus, the Council agreed that it should obtain a clearer approximation of the actual cost before moving forward. Mr. Dutterer pointed out a need for additional money to continue researching and analyzing the funding issues. Mr. Pecoraro moved to appropriate $20,000.00 from Unappropriated Surplus for those costs. Mrs. Albert seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

Mr. Marty Hackett of Carroll Land Services, Inc. thanked Mr. Siders for his work with the County on the Emmert property zoning issues.

The Council President adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk