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City Council
Minutes of City Council Meetings | Agenda for next City Council Meeting
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND
April 12, 2004
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 April 12, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson, and Wack; Planning and Public Works Director Beyard; Police Chief Spaulding; City Treasurer Urban; City Attorney Walsh; and City Clerk Taylor were present.
MINUTES:
Upon Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Dr. Wack and unanimously passed, the Minutes of the Meeting of March 22, 2004 were approved as presented.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Mayor Dayhoff conducted a public hearing on Resolution No. R04-3 – Maryland Economic Development Revenue Bonds (Carroll Lutheran Village, Inc.) Series 2004. At his request, Mr. Walsh summarized the Resolution. Mr. Walsh introduced Geary Milliken, President and C.E.O. of Carroll Lutheran Village and Herman Rosenthal, Bond Counsel from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, L.L.P. Mr. Milliken outlined the new construction that the bond proceeds would fund at the facility Once completed, the facility will become the fourth highest taxpaying employer in the County. There being no further comment, Mayor Dayhoff closed the Hearing and Public Record at 7:07 p.m.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Mrs. Albert moved to approve the Consent Calendar, which consisted of approval of the Economic Summit Minutes from March 13, 2004; approval of the Minutes of the Meeting to discuss Maryland Route No. 140 alternatives on March 24, 2004; approval of a request for a leave of absence without pay; approval of the Carroll Regulatory Commission Budget; and approval of the allocation of cable settlement proceeds to litigation reserves. Mr. Ferguson seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.
REPORTS FROM MAYOR:
… Delivered a Proclamation making the months of April and May the 2004 Maryland Chiefs’ Challenge Month.
… Read a Proclamation making April 2004 Fair Housing Month in the City of Westminster;
… Announced the death of former Westminster Mayor LeRoy Conaway and read the following tribute:
A Tribute to Former Westminster Mayor LeRoy Conaway
On Monday, March 29, 2004 the Carroll County Community and The City of Westminster suffered a loss with the passing of a community leader.
Mayor Conaway was born April 28, 1930, in Winfield. He was the son of the late Jay W. and Amy Fleming Conaway. He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Janet Lee (Wolbert) Conaway; daughter Teresa Conaway of Lincoln, Neb.; brother Jay Conaway of Westminster; niece Bonnie Lockard of Westminster; and nephews Dr. Boyd Myers of Annandale, Va., Bryan Myers of Manchester and Gary Conaway of Silver Springs.
Mayor Conaway was a 1948 graduate of Sykesville High School. Mayor Conaway spent much of his youth helping his father run a neighborhood general store. In the late 1940s, he supervised the construction of a new store, also in Winfield.
Before serving in the Army from 1952 to 1954, Mayor Conaway owned Conaway Bros. General Store in Winfield, which he sold to his brother after being drafted. After serving in the Army, he purchased East End Market in Westminster, which he sold in 1965. From 1965 to 1974, he was a stockbroker with Weis, Voisin Co. and Janney, Montgomery & Scott, members of the New York Stock Exchange. In 1974, he became manager of the Maryland Candy Co. In 1977, he returned to retail and bought The Whistle Stop, a small country store along the railroad tracks in the Carroll community of Patapsco.
Mayor Conaway was a charter member of Westminster Elks Lodge 2277. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose 1381, American Legion Carroll Post 31, Door to Virtue Masonic Lodge 46 AF & AM and the Fraternal Order of Police. He had served on the board of directors of Carroll County General Hospital, was Carroll County Chairman of the Cancer Crusade in 1973, and former vice president of the MD Candy & Tobacco Assoc.
Mr. Conaway was a Westminster City Councilman from May 1964 to May 1971, Council President from May 1971 to May 1973 and Mayor of Westminster from May 1973 to May 1989. He also served as a former member of the MD Regional Planning Council, President of the Carroll Co. Chapter of the MML and had served on the Governor's Commission on Crime and Law Enforcement. He was inducted into the MML Hall of fame in 2000 for 25 years of service in municipal government.
Mayor Conaway was a conscientious, dedicated public servant, who was a hands-on Mayor whose main concern was the betterment of the city. Mayor Conaway knew the municipal employees, their families and the issues that were important to his constituents. Some of the most memorable improvements of Mayor Conaway’s tenure were the straightening of the intersections of Bond and John Streets and Liberty Street and Railroad Avenue, the expansion of the Westminster Police Department, the City's purchase of the Westminster water system, and reconstruction of Main Street.
This Memorial Tribute by the Westminster Mayor, Common Council and the Staff of The City of Westminster on behalf of the citizens of the City of Westminster was signed in Westminster City Hall, this April Third in the year Two Thousand and Four.
Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff
… Requested the City Clerk to honor the City tradition of leaving a blank page in the Minutes, in memory of Mayor Conaway’s service, dedication, and commitment:
… Announced the passing of City employee Connie Dunning’s mother.
… Advised that he, Mr. Beyard, and Mr. Siders met with Board of Education Superintendent Chuck Ecker and, after exploring options to relieve overcrowding at North Carroll High School, recommended the construction of a new school.
… Reported that Mr. Buchanan of the State Department of Transportation agreed that the State would conduct a signalization study at the intersection of Maryland Route No. 140 and Maryland Route No. 27.
… Noted that Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Beyard gave a well-received presentation to the Greater Westminster Development Corporation on the Route 27 corridor.
… Remarked that the Fallfest Gala was highly attended and successful.
… Observed that the Main Street Mile Run would occur on April 14, 2004.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Dr. Wack commented upon the importance and effect of allocating the Adelphia settlement proceeds to the litigation reserves fund.
A discussion ensued concerning overcrowding at North Carroll High School. Council President Halstad and Mr. Chiavacci stressed the importance of keeping the respective roles of the City and County separate. President Halstad observed that, given budgetary restraints, the issue of redistricting could remain on the table.
Mayor Dayhoff noted that the Budget Workshop would take place on Monday, April 19, 2004 in City Hall at 6:00 p.m. He outlined some of the challenges of preparing the budget for the 2005 fiscal year.
Council President Halstad reported that a small committee had been formed to work on the Disorderly House Ordinance draft. Members included Council President Halstad, Mr. Beyard, Chief Spaulding, City resident Lori Graham, Rusty Arenz – head of the Landlords’ Association, and former Council Member Bill Haifley.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:
Council President Halstad summarized proposed Resolution No. R04-3 – Maryland Economic Development Revenue Bonds (Carroll Lutheran Village, Inc.) Series 2004. Mr. Chiavacci recused himself from discussing and voting on the Resolution. Mr. Ferguson abstained. Mrs. Albert moved to adopt the Resolution. Dr. Wack seconded, and the Resolution was adopted.
NEW BUSINESS:
Council President Halstad noted that the Mayor and Common Council and several members of the community met on March 13, 2004, to consider various components of the regulatory structure and their effects upon economic vitality in the City. Mr. Ferguson summarized a draft of the “Report and Recommendations on Downtown Economic Development Initiatives” prepared subsequent to the meeting. Mr. Chiavacci complimented staff’s identification of issues and timelines in the Report. He recommended that individual Council Members and the Greater Westminster Development Corporation take an active role in realizing the recommendations in the Report, due to the timelines. Several other Council Members complimented the work of the staff. Mr. Ferguson observed that he would like to see the Route 27 corridor recommendations pursued quickly, in particular.
Council President Halstad indicated that the Common Council would vote whether to adopt the Report, with any amendments, at the Meeting on April 26, 2004.
NEW BUSINESS:
Upon Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously approved, a closed session was scheduled immediately following the regular Meeting, pursuant to subsections 10-508(a)(1) and (a)(7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss personnel matters and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
Chief Spaulding noted that progress had been made with regard to the staffing shortages in the Police Department.
CITIZEN COMMENTS:
Council President Halstad welcomed Scout Troop 9 of Finksburg and scouts Garrett Jarvis, Alex Myers, and Ryan Kelly.
Council President Halstad adjourned the meeting at 7:59 p.m.
Laurell E. Taylor
City Clerk
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