Mayor & Common Council Meetings

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 11, 2013 A meeting of the Mayor and Common Council was held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1838 Emerald Hill Lane, Westminster, Maryland on the evening of November 11, 2013, at 7:00 P.M. Mayor Utz; Council President Wack; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, and Frazier; City Administrator and Acting City Clerk Wolf, Chief of Police Spaulding, Director of Recreation and Parks Gruber, Director of Public Works Glass, City Treasurer Palmer, Director of Community Planning and Development Horn, and City Attorney Levan were present. Councilman Whitson was excused from attending the meeting. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Utz remarked on the nice job that Downtown did on their scarecrows for the Scarecrow contest. Ms. Gruber thanked Ms. Wilcox and Mr. Garver as well as the downtown businesses who participated in the contest for their handwork. Mayor Utz announced the first place winner of the Scarecrow contest as Birdie’s café and second place winner was Stergil and Associates. He then announced that the People’s Choice Award went to Barnes Bollinger Insurance. Ms. Gruber thanked Wilson’s for the plaques that were given to the businesses who won the Scarecrow contest. Mayor Utz read a Proclamation declaring November 30, 2013 as Small Business Saturday. He then declared November 2013 as Municipal Government Works Month and National American Indian Heritage Month. Mayor Utz then presented a Proclamation declaring November 2013 as National Home Care and Hospice Month to Sandra Grant from Carroll Hospice and Carroll Home Care. MINUTES Upon motion of Mr. Frazier, and seconded by Mr. Chiavacci, the Minutes of the meeting of November 11, 2013 were approved unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR Upon motion of Ms. Albert and seconded by Mr. Chiavacci, the Consent Calendar consisting of the minor Administrative adjustment to Housing Administrative Plan was approved unanimously. REPORT FROM THE MAYOR Mayor Utz reported that on October 29 he conducted the swearing in of Officer Robert Sharpley. On November 5 Mayor Utz attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the ADA Ramp Project and he also thanked Ms. Wolf and staff for their hard work on the ADA Ramp project. Mayor Utz also reported that he attended another ribbon cutting ceremony on November 7 for the Mistletoe Mart’s 40th Anniversary celebration and he also attended the Employee Expo. On November 11 he attended two Veteran’s Day affairs at East Middle school and City Parks and Recreation at the Legend. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION Mr. Chiavacci commended Ms. Wolf and her staff for the ADA Ramp Project event that took place in front of the Amory. He shared that after the event he had an opportunity to speak to the Secretary of Public Safety and Corrections, who shared his interest in working with the City of Westminster in future projects. Ms. Wolf complimented on the hard work of Mr. Glass and his staff during the Ramp Project and shared that the City has spoken to Public Safety and Corrections for doing Habitat of Humanity. Mr. Chiavacci reported that he attended the public hearing for the Skate Park Project and was impressed with the input that was received. He felt that Ms. Gruber and the President of the Ramp Company did a great job. Dr. Wack echoed with Mr. Chaivacci in his comments of the ADA Ramp Project and thanked staff for their hard work. He reported that he attended the Halloween events and suggested closing Main Street next year. Dr. Wack also announced the preliminary edit results that showed no findings, which is the cleanest audit the City has ever had. He congratulated the City Staff for their hard work and cooperation. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS Mr. Horn informed Mayor and Common Council that the Ordinance was introduced as Ordinance No. 820 on October 14. He asked that Mayor and Common Council move to amend the Ordinance as No. 847. Upon motion of Mr. Chiavacci, seconded by Ms. Albert, the adoption of Ordinance No. 847 was amended and approved. Ms. Wolf reminded Mayor and Common Council that the City originally submitted an application and was awarded $68,000 for the Renewable Energy program. Once the Resolutions are adopted and they are then sent to the energy agency and two plans must be submitted by December, then the City will receive the funding. Ms. Wolf added that the City may then apply for more funding for Solar Energy project on the DBW building and Geothermal at the City Park. Ms. Wolf also reassured Mayor and Common Council that the City will meet the required goals. Mr. Chiavacci questioned if the City could include the projects that have been completed, towards the required goals. Ms. Wolf replied yes. Mr. Frazier questioned how specific the instructions were by the State of Maryland. Dr. Wack replied that the instructions pertain to the guidelines to participate in the program. Upon motion of Ms. Albert, seconded by Mr. Frazier, the Adoption of Resolutions 13-07 and 13-08 were approved unanimously. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS Mr. Glass informed Mayor and Council that the ADA Ramp project was challenging at times, but overall went well. He commented that the funding for the project went along way due to the help from the Public Safety and Corrections department and would like to see the City do more with them in the future to save the City money on other projects. Mayor Utz questioned Mr. Glass about when doing the budget for the repaving if he needed to enclose these additional curb ramps. Mr. Glass replied that is correct, along with the road improvements that would need to make with annual repaving projects. Mr. Glass also reported that the window project for the Armory and the City Hall is 75% completed. He added that the roof on the Armory will need spot repair. He shared that the road paving contract deep patching work would begin on Long Valley after Congressional Court was completed. Ms. Gruber reported that she has received site plans for the Skate Park Project as a result of the input she received from those who attended public hearing. Ms. Gruber noted that she will share the plans with those who attended the meeting to receive their input. Ms. Gruber also reported that the downtown Halloween events were a success and has ideas of how the City can expand next year. She shared that Recreation and Parks Department worked to support the Employee Expo and the Veterans ceremony and are continuing to work on the upcoming Holiday events. Ms. Palmer expressed her gratitude on how much the staff of the City pitched in during the Audit, helping to make the audit a success. She noted that the Department heads very corporative and that everyone in the Finance Department made the audit a team effort. Chief Spaulding reported that a new officer Robert Sharpley has joined the Westminster Police Department. He also reported that the LPR program has begun, is installed and four officers have been trained to operate the LPR has been installed. Chief Spaulding informed Mayor and Council that a collection tool has been developed and once the program has been in us for thirty days, he will provide Mayor and Council with a report. Chief Spaulding also shared information that was received in reporting the data to MCAC, but still working on receiving more information for Mayor and Council. Mr. Horn reported that McDonald’s made November 1 date. He thanked Chief Spaulding and Ms. Palmer for being responsive as can be to code enforcement needs and working to get that vacancy filled. Ms. Wolf added that an offer had been made to one out of five candidates that were interviewed. Ms. Wolf reminded Mayor and Council that the employee expo focuses on health and that this year a hearing test was offered for the first time. She also reported that during an advisory committee meeting at Carroll Lutheran Village, there was an interesting discussion about where Carroll Lutheran Village is going in the future and mentioning participation in the pilot program for the broadband. Ms. Wolf finally reported that on November 7 that the business awards were given by the Chamber of Commerce and Tevis Oil and Knorr Brake received an award from the Westminster area. CITIZEN COMMENTS Mr. Jack Tevis, 405 Cassell Close, inquired about the water allocation within the City so that he may execute a lease with Longhorn Steak House. Ms. Wolf replied that the City is waiting for MDE to review a water supply management plan that was submitted and that the City does not expect that they will receive anything until December. Mr. Glass shared that that the next meeting will not be until sometime in December. Mayor Utz explained to Mr. Tevis that the City staff is continuing to work with Carroll County to find potential new development of water resource. Former Mayor Kevin Dayhoff, 459 Uniontown Road wanted to remind Mayor and Common Council of the memorial ceremony that will be held on November 16 in memory of Terri Berk where a monument is being dedicated to him. He also commented on the ADA curb ramp project and felt that it was a wonderful project. ADJOURNMENT President Wack adjourned the meeting at 7:57pm. Respectfully Submitted, Shannon Visocsky