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

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
DECEMBER 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 December 9, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Pecoraro, Ferguson, and Chiavacci; 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 November 25, 2002, were approved on Motion of Mr. Chiavacci, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro, and duly passed.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Mayor Dayhoff conducted a Public Hearing on Community Development and Housing Needs in the Union Street area. At Mayor Dayhoff’s request, City Housing and Community Development Administrator Blandford summarized the purpose of the Hearing. The Federal Government requires the Hearing, as part of the award of $450,000 in Community Legacy Funds for construction of the Union Street Community Center, in order to solicit citizen views on housing and community needs in the neighborhood. Federal regulations prohibit use of the money to displace residents without providing suitable alternative housing. Ms. Blandford pointed out that no such displacement would occur as a result of the Center. Reverend Howard Hinson of the Union Street United Methodist Church expressed his appreciation of the City’s support and willingness to sponsor the grant. There being no further comment, Mayor Dayhoff closed the Record and the Hearing at 7:15 p.m.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

On Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and duly passed, the Consent Calendar was approved, consisting of: 1) approval of the 2003 Fallfest Parade date change; 2) approval of Good Cause Waiver Nos. GCW 02-2, GCW 02-10, and GCW 02-11; and 3) approval of two Parade/Demonstration Permits.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

… Reported on the success of the Holiday House Tour and thanked City Planners Siders

and Fisher for their efforts.

… Read the following Proclamation:

WHEREAS, each year drunk and drugged driving leads to one death every 33 minutes, one injury every two minutes and 1.5 million arrests nationally; and

WHEREAS, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has sponsored the “You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” national mobilization to address this public problem and criminal act; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of sobriety checkpoints in 1990; moreover the decision held that the interest in reducing alcohol-impaired driving was sufficient to justify the brief intrusion of a properly conducted sobriety check point; and

WHEREAS, sobriety check points are proven to reduce impaired driving crashes both by removing impaired drivers from the road as well as deterring others from attempting to drive, and thereby lessen the hazards to innocent people; and

WHEREAS, the Westminster Police Department considers its duty to protect our citizens from hazards such as impaired drivers of the highest priority by participating in Sobriety Check Points and Holiday Patrols for impaired driving;

NOW, THEREFORE, I Kevin E. Dayhoff, Mayor of the City of Westminster, and the Westminster Police Department join the “You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” effort and hereby proclaim support for the use of Sobriety Check Points and Holiday Patrol as a valuable weapon in the battle against impaired driving.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Mr. Ferguson complimented Mr. Bloom and his staff for their efforts and success with the holiday events of Saturday, December 7, 2002. Mr. Pecoraro thanked Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson for generously underwriting the 2002 Holiday House Tour.

Council President Halstad observed that the Raw Reservoir Level had risen to 75.9 percent.

Council President Halstad advised that the Carroll County Restaurant Association wants legislation allowing Carroll County restaurants with alcoholic beverages licenses to remain open until 2 a.m., the same closing time as establishments in neighboring counties and nearly all of the State. Mr. Ruchlewicz advised that the Association would like the City to send a letter of support if it agrees with the proposal. The Carroll County Board of License Commissioners and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (“M.A.D.D.”) have indicated they will not oppose the legislation. M.A.D.D. takes the position that uniform closing times for establishments serving alcohol helps decrease the number of alcohol-related accidents. Mr. Pecoraro pointed out that a uniform closing time would benefit economic development. Based on the discussion, Mr. Pecoraro moved that Mr. Ruchlewicz draft a letter expressing the City’s support of the proposal. Mrs. Albert seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Pecoraro presented the Report and Recommendations of the Advisory Task Force Committee on Downtown Westminster Parking. The Committee, consisting of staff and local business representatives, was charged with finding creative ways to increase the parking revenue stream with the development of a five to ten year plan covering parking management, parking rates, access and related issues. The Committee inventoried parking in downtown Westminster and found that a total of 3,727 public and private parking spaces exist. As a result of its study, the Committee’s Report contains several recommendations pertaining to future rate schedules for permits, pay-on-foot devices, meters, and parking violations; the procurement of new parking equipment and software; increased signage; enforcement, and installation of video monitoring equipment and emergency telephones. Mr. Pecoraro emphasized that, with regard to parking fines, the Committee recommends a graduated schedule. First time offenders will receive a notice, while habitual offenders will pay the higher fines.

Mr. Pecoraro next summarized the equipment and software that implementation of the Committee recommendations and construction of the new parking garages will entail. It is recommended that the City furnish two pay-on-foot stations in the new Longwell Parking Garage and one such station in the new Westminster Square Garage. Additionally, the City will need to purchase parking control equipment, replacement meters, and enforcement hardware and software. Mr. Pecoraro advised that the City had received a proposal from BB&T Bank with very favorable rates for a seven-year lease purchase agreement. Mr. Chiavacci moved to approve the purchase of the parking control equipment for the Parking Decks. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously. Mr. Pecoraro moved to accept the financing proposal of BB&T. Mr. Ferguson recused himself from participation in the matter. Mrs. Albert seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously. Mrs. Audrey Cimino was thanked for her participation on the Committee.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

On Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mrs. Albert and unanimously passed, Ordinance No. 692 – Zoning of Emmert Property – was adopted.

On Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Chiavacci and unanimously passed, the Rules of Order and Procedure were suspended. Mr. Chiavacci then moved to adopt Resolution No. R02-17 – Application for Union Street Community Center. Mr. Pecoraro seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

Mrs. Albert moved to suspend the Rules of Order and Procedure to adopt Resolution No. R02-18 – Adoption of the Community Development Block Grant Citizen Participation Plan. Mr. Chiavacci seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously. Mr. Chiavacci moved to adopt the Resolution, Mr. Pecoraro seconded, and the Resolution was adopted unanimously.

Mr. Pecoraro moved to suspend the Rules of Order and Procedure to consider Resolution No. R02-19 – Adoption of the Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Plan. Mr. Ferguson seconded the Motion, and it passed unanimously. Mr. Chiavacci then moved to adopt the Resolution. Following seconding of the Motion by Mr. Ferguson, the Resolution was unanimously adopted.

At the request of Council President Halstad, Mr. Beyard summarized Resolution No. R02-15 and Resolution No. R02-16 – Annexations No. 48 and 51, respectively, of the Naganna property. Mr. Beyard explained that the owners have proposed two alternatives because the property is not completely contiguous. The law requires the Common Council to Introduce the Resolutions promptly, but the process of holding public hearings, meeting advertisement and notification requirements, and referral to other agencies will take extensive time. Only after that process is completed can the Common Council consider whether annexation is in the best interest of the City. Mr. Walsh agreed with Mr. Beyard and furnished further details about the process. Mrs. Albert moved to Introduce both Resolutions, Mr. Pecoraro seconded the Motion and it passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mr. Chiavacci advised that consultant Buchart Horn, Inc., has been working with staff and elected officials since July to formulate a recommendation for additional building space for City government. Existing space is filled, and the City also uses leased office space and trailers. Security is also a consideration. Mr. Chiavacci introduced Melvin B. Jacobsen and Kimberly M. Studzinski of Buchart Horn, Inc. Mr. Jacobsen summarized the firm’s Report, which recommends interior renovation of City Hall and the addition of a 21,500 square foot office building. Renovation of the existing building would accommodate larger Council Chambers, create more conference area, and move all offices except those of the Mayor, Council members, and City Clerk into the new addition. The Police and Recreation Departments would remain at their current locations. Mr. Jacobsen also summarized the projected costs of the construction, renovation, and new furnishings. He thanked City Planner Siders for assisting with the study. The Council members thanked Mr. Jacobsen and Ms. Studzinski for their excellent work. It was agreed that funding issues would not permit the project to go forward in the immediate future.

Mr. Beyard informed the attendees that, as a result of the last census, Westminster has been invited to join the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board. The chief elected official typically represents his or her jurisdiction, but the jurisdiction also may appoint an empowered representative and an alternate. Upon Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Chiavacci and unanimously passed, the Common Council made Mr. Beyard the empowered representative and Mr. Siders the alternate. Mr. Pecoraro recused himself from the discussion and the vote.

Upon Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and unanimously passed, the Mayor and Common Council Meeting of December 23, 2002 was canceled.

Upon Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and unanimously passed, the Common Council voted to meet in closed session following the regular Meeting to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to Title 10, Section 10-508(a)(1) of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

On behalf of Chief Joneckis, Mr. Chiavacci announced that citizens of lower Pennsylvania Avenue have been equipped with cell phones in order to call police when they witness suspected criminal activity. He also noted that the Police have received numerous letters thanking them for their increased presence at Westminster schools during a recent wave of sniper attacks around Washington, D.C.

Mr. Beyard thanked Mrs. Russ, Mrs. Sheehan, Mr. Bloom, and the Street Crew for the holiday decorations in City Hall and throughout the City. He complimented Mr. Bloom and his crew for snow removal during recent storms.

Mr. Ferguson noted that Carroll County General Hospital raised $45,000 during its recent charity ball. He thanked the Mayor and Common Council for their contribution.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

Ms. Lori Graham of the Stewart N. Dutterer Flower Shop thanked Mr. Ruchlewicz and Mr. Siders for helping with her recent store renovation project.

City resident Eric Horgos expressed his hope that the City would bear in mind the recommendations of the Route 27 Corridor Study Group if and when the City Hall expansion and renovation project occurs.

City resident Rick Blizzard inquired about crime control measures in the two new parking decks. Mr. Beyard advised him that the garages would contain monitors and be well lit.

City resident Rebekah Orenstein commented that neighbors of establishments serving alcohol might feel opposed to extending the establishments’ hours.

Council President Halstad adjourned the Meeting at 9:05 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk