City Council
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MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND

September 13, 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 September 13, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.  Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Ferguson, and Wack; Planning and Public Works Director Beyard; 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 August 9, (Closed Session) and August 23, 2004 were approved as presented.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

Mayor Dayhoff recommended the appointment of Calvin Wray Mowbray, Jr. to the Carroll Regional Airport Technical Advisory Committee.  On Motion of Dr. Wack, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, the appointment was approved.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

Mrs. Albert moved to approve the Consent Calendar, which consisted of approval of Stearns and Wheler Amendment No. 6 – Completion of Construction Services for Wastewater Treatment Plant Liquid Chlorine/Dechlorination, approval of a Revised General Order – Departmental Reporting System, and approval of Parade/Demonstration Permits.  Dr. Wack seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

BIDS:

Council President Halstad summarized bids received to repair the City Park retaining wall under Contract No R-193-C.  Mr. Beyard explained that the City Budget contained $220,000 for the project but the lowest bid came in considerably higher.  He outlined three options ranging from accepting the lowest bid to diminishing the scope of work on the project in order to cut costs.  After considerable discussion, Council members, with the exception of Mrs. Albert, agreed by consensus that staff should prepare a Budget Amendment Resolution for consideration at the next Meeting.  The Resolution would establish sufficient funding to accept the low bid, as recommended by Mr. Ferguson.  The bid and Resolution would most likely be voted upon at the meeting.

Council President Halstad summarized bids received to perform maintenance on the elevator in the Westminster Square Parking Garage.  Mr. Ferguson moved to accept the low bid of $130 per month for five years with a three percent discount for payment twelve months in advance.  ThyssenKrupp Elevator of Linthicum, Maryland, submitted the bid.  Mrs. Albert seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Beyard summarized bids received from geotechnical consultants concerning the City’s Raw Reservoir:  to review site information; to complete a geotechnical investigation and analysis; to complete a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis; to attend to preliminary permitting; and to prepare a final report for MDE and other agencies. The work could eventually result in an expansion of the City’s Raw Reservoir. Mrs. Albert moved to accept the low bid in the amount $27,000 of Schnabel Engineering North, LLC from West Chester, Pennsylvania.  Mr. Ferguson seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

REPORTS FROM MAYOR:

…        Reported that the Fallfest Parade would take place on Sunday, September 19, 2004 at 3:00 p.m.

…       Read a Proclamation making September 17 – 23, 2004 Constitution Week.

…       Read a Proclamation making September, 2004 Disabled American Veterans’ “Forget-Me-Not” Month.

…        Complimented Dr. Wack on his editorial concerning Access Carroll.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

There were no reports from Standing Committees.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:     

On Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, Ordinance No. 722 – Medical and Dental Offices in the R-7,500 Zone – was adopted.

NEW BUSINESS:

At the request of Council President Halstad, Housing and Community Development Manager Karen Blandford presented a proposal to obtain concurrence for the City to purchase 45-47 Union Street.  The property contains two townhouses.  45 Union Street was recently renovated; 47 Union Street needs to be completely renovated.  The City would sell the units under a shared equity home ownership program to low- to moderate-income families.  In order to make the purchase, a Budget Amendment authorizing expenditure of an additional $80,000 for the Community Development Program would be necessary.  Of that, $45,000 would come from uncommitted unappropriated Revolving Account Loan Funds and the remaining $35,000 would be funded with a simple interest bearing loan from the Sewer Fund.  The Sewer Fund loan would only be utilized in the event that all other external funding sources are exhausted and would receive first priority for repayment.

Council President Halstad observed that the best long-term solution to providing owner-occupied housing for low- and moderate-income families would be the establishment of a private nonprofit entity.  Mr. Ferguson recommended that Ms. Blandford seek as many donations as possible for the rehabilitation of 47 Union Street.  Upon Motion by Dr. Wack, approved by Mr. Ferguson and unanimously passed, the acquisition of the two units and corresponding Budget Amendment were approved.

Mrs. Albert made a Motion pursuant to Section 10-508(a) (7) and (14) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland to conduct a Closed Meeting immediately following the Public Meeting in order to discuss a matter directly related to a negotiating strategy or the contents of a bid or proposal and matters directly related thereto, and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice.  Mr. Ferguson seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Chief Spaulding reported a shooting incident in the City in the early morning hours of September 4, 2004.  The police have issued arrested warrants and established a reward.

Chief Spaulding advised that a new police officer was sworn in.

Mr. Beyard advised that bids for the Pennsylvania Avenue lighting project would be presented to the Mayor and Common Council in October.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

City resident Josephine Velazquez commented on the need for more activities for youth.

City resident Lori Graham thanked the Mayor and Council for establishing the Westminster/Paide program and remarked on her recent visit to Estonia.

Council President Halstad adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m.

Laurell E. Taylor
City Clerk