City Council
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MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
DECEMBER 10, 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 December 10, 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 November 26, 2001 were approved as presented, on Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and duly passed.

BIDS:

Mr. Beyard presented the results of re-bidding the Carroll Theater renovation project, for the use of the Carroll County Arts Council. The scope of the project was reduced, due to the funding limitations. Thereafter, on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and unanimously passed, the following actions were taken: (1) approve the bid of GRC General Contractor, Inc., 242 East Main Street (P.O. Box 865), Westminster, MD 21157 in the amount of $998,450 to complete the Carroll Arts Center project; (2) transfer $114,750 from General Fund account number G18.32003 to General Fund account number G10.9323. This will increase total construction funding from $935,250 to $1,050,000 (Construction - $998,450 + contingency - $51,550 = $1,050,000); (3) authorize the Mayor to execute any and all contracts and agreements required to implement this action, on the advice and recommendation of the Director of Planning and Public Works and the City Attorney.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

. . . read a Proclamation designating the month of December 2001 as National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. The Proclamation was presented to Chief Joneckis.

. . . announced that BB&T Bank was awarded the Mayor’s Cup, as the winner of the downtown window Christmas decorating contest.

. . . noted that the City has won the claims service award, as a participant in the Local Government Insurance Trust.

. . . reported that Mr. Chiavacci was awarded the National Retirement Housing Professional designation, by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Mr. Halstad advised of several meetings in connection with smart growth, proposed ice rink and community affairs matters.

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS:

On Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, Zoning Ordinance No. 673 was adopted, which provides for multiple-family housing for older persons in the “B” Business Zone.

NEW BUSINESS:

Whitney, Bailey, Cox & Magnani, LLC representatives presented the schematic design of revised option 2A for the Longwell Parking Structure. Project Manager Marco Legaluppi, accompanied by numerous other officials, presented the proposed three-story, approximately 315 parking space facility. The cost of construction of the 270’ x 120’ brick faced structure is estimated to be $2,570,298. Comments from persons at the meeting were as follows: Mr. Chiavacci suggested using the downtown clock tower theme on the roof of the stairwells; David Max requested that the presentation be made to the Greater Westminster Development Corporation and Fire Chief Jay Wallace strongly recommended installing elevators to ease fire protection efforts.

City Arborist, Brian Adams, advised of working with contractor, Tom Hunter, planting forty trees along the West Main Street reconstruction project.

The regularly scheduled Mayor and Council Meeting of December 24, 2001 was cancelled due to the Christmas Holiday, on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mrs. Albert and duly passed.

A closed meeting was scheduled to immediately follow the regular session on Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, to discuss personnel matters and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice, as authorized in Section 10-508 (a)(1) and 10-508 (a)(7) of the State government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

The Mayoral appointment of Steve Allgeier to a three-year term ending in 2004, to serve on the Tree Commission, was confirmed, on Motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Chiavacci and unanimously passed.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

The closed meeting held at 9:00 p.m. following the regular session in City Hall was attended by Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson and Pecoraro; Department Heads Dutterer and Joneckis, Supervisor of Human Resources Darlene Childs and City Attorney Walsh. A unanimous vote authorized the meeting to discuss personnel

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: (Continued)

matters and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice; as authorized in Section 10-508 (a)(1) and 10-508 (a)(7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Mr. Beyard reported on the following two matters; the water level in the raw water reservoir has been increased by two feet; and the Wakefield Valley/Terry Burk Community Trail project is proceeding well, with the scheduling of setting the bridge to be in the near future.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

County resident Beatrice Wolf suggested that additional police officers will be required to patrol the proposed Longwell parking structure.

ADJOURN:

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

JOHN D. DUDDERAR

City Clerk