#1 MEETING JANUARY 14, 2002
PRESENT
Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman
Council President William F. Stacey
Council Vice President
Joseph L. Scott
Councilwoman Rachel S. Polk
Councilwoman Lavonzella
Siggers
Councilman C. T. Webster
IN ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, Executive Officer John Pick, City Solicitor
Paul Wilber, Finance Director John Cawley, Director of Procurement &
Parking Carol Turner, C.P.M., CPPB, and interested Citizens and Members
of the Press.
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CONVENING - ADOPTION OF AGENDA
The Mayor and Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Council President Stacey called the meeting to order. The Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited.
Upon a motion and a second by Mr. Webster and Mrs. Polk, respectively, the agenda was unanimously adopted as presented.
APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 17, 2001 MINUTES
On a motion by Mr. Webster and seconded by Mrs. Polk, the minutes of December 17, 2001 were unanimously approved.
PUBLIC HEARING - ORDINANCE NO. 1835 - 1ST READING - TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE SALISBURY MUNICIPAL CODE, SECTION 17.72 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, TO ADD CHURCHES AND TRAINING CENTERS AS USES PERMITTED BY ORDINANCE PERMIT
Mrs. Polk moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1835 for first reading. Mrs. Gloria Smith, from the Planning, Zoning and Community Development Department, presented the text amendment to add training centers and churches as uses permitted by Ordinance Permit to Section 17.72, Industrial District, of the Salisbury Municipal Code. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 15, 2001 concerning Mr. Hebreux St. Fleur's request to establish a training center and provide space for a church on property located at 510 Delaware Avenue. A favorable recommendation was forwarded to the City Council to amend Section 17.72.040.
Mrs. Smith reported that the approval process for a use permitted by Ordinance Permit requires an advertised public hearing by the Planning Commission and, following a favorable recommendation by the Commission, a second public hearing is required before the Mayor and Council. Mr. St. Fleur clarified that the training center and church would be contained in the same building.
After further discussion, all voted in favor of Ordinance No. 1835 for first reading with the exception of Mr. Scott who abstained.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Stacey announced that the Council would convene in a closed session following the regular meeting to consult with legal counsel on acquisition of property.
Mr. Webster announced that the public comments section would be at the beginning of the agenda on the second Council meeting of each month.
ORDINANCE NO. 1836 - 1ST READING - PROVIDING QUESTION ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT ON CHANGING FROM MAYOR-COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT TO COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Mr. Scott moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1836 for first reading. Mr. Stacey explained that there was some confusion with the passage of the previous ordinance on this issue, so the majority of the Council decided to move forward with a new ordinance. Ordinance No. 1836 provides for a non-binding ballot question for the May 2002 General Election as follows:
"Should the City Council amend the Charter to adopt a council-manager
form
of government?"
Yes or No.
Mrs. Polk believed it to be a waste of time since the public had already voiced their preference. In her view, time would be better spent considering the issue of a full-time mayor. Ms. Siggers also voiced her support of a full-time mayor and reiterated her distaste for a Council who disregarded the sentiments of the public.
Ordinance No. 1836 for first reading passed on a 3-2 vote. Mrs. Polk and Ms. Siggers cast the nay votes.
PUBLIC HEARING - RESOLUTION NO. 815 - RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO APPROVE A MARYLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) APPLICATION FOR FUNDS TO DO A HOUSING REHABILITATION GRANT/LOAN PROGRAM THROUGH THE SALISBURY NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICE
Mr. Webster moved and Mr. Scott seconded to approve Resolution No. 815. Ms. Deborah Stam, Mrs. Cheryl Meadows and Mr. Glenn Bury briefed Council on Resolution No. 815 asking for support of an application for CDBG funds on behalf of Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Service. The $150,000 grant application request, targeted to low to moderate income households for housing rehabilitation, consists of:
housing rehabilitation grants (12 households)
$125,000
housing rehabilitation revolving loan
15,000
housing inspections work write-ups
10,000
$150,000
A discussion ensued concerning the means of informing the public on the availability of funds and the problems applicants have faced when applying for the funds. Mr. James Trader suggested training a City employee to perform lead paint evaluations to reduce the expense of hiring a private contractor.
Resolution No. 815 passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING - STATUS OF FISCAL YEAR 2001 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Ms. Deborah Stam and Mr. Glenn Bury provided a status report on the FY01 CDBG Housing Rehabilitation program. The $100,000 grant assisted eleven households at an average cost of $17,795 per applicant. With additional funding through the Maryland Housing Rehab Program, the total leveraged funds amounted to $251,775 in rehab work.
MANUFACTURING EXEMPTION REQUEST - WHEATON PHARMATECH
Mr. Webster moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve the manufacturing exemption request for Wheaton Pharmatech. Finance Director John Cawley recommended that Wheaton Pharmatech be granted an exemption from personal property tax for equipment purchased in 2000. Over the next five years, a maximum of $19,137 in personal property tax would be waived by granting the exemption.
The manufacturing exemption request for Wheaton Pharmatech was unanimously approved.
AWARD OF BIDS
Ms. Siggers moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve the Award of Bids. Director of Procurement and Parking Carol Turner presented the following:
1.
Declaration of Surplus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0-
(radial arm saw, work bench, air
operated saw, pistol)
The declaration of surplus was unanimously approved.
MAYOR'S COMMENTS
Mayor Tilghman comments included:
*
arrival of new Urban Salisbury Executive Director Jim Bosworth;
*
Urban Salisbury preparing for another community-wide session for public
comments;
*
Lt. Governor in town today speaking to the Greater Salisbury Committee;
and
*
will make arrangements with Urban Salisbury to speak with the Council regarding
parking lot #15.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmembers thanked the public for attending tonight's meeting. Mr. Webster commented on a sign he received as a retirement present from the Dupont Company. Mr. Scott mentioned items facing the City this year (i.e., water and sewer). Ms. Siggers voiced her pleasure with Mr. St. Fleur's proposal and encouraged the public's continued participation in future discussions concerning water and sewer.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. James Trader asked for a timetable on the completion of the repairs to the Bandstand. Ms. Siggers thanked the Daily Times for its contribution to the City's Bandstand.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WRAP-UP
Mr. Stacey thanked the public for attending and encouraged continued participation. He reiterated that the public would be allowed to speak first at the next Council meeting.
With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION
JANUARY 14, 2002
TIME & PLACE:
8:18 p.m., Room 301 City/County Government Building
PURPOSE:
Consult with legal counsel on acquisition of property
VOTE TO CLOSE:
4-0 (Ms. Siggers was not present during the vote to close)
CITATION:
Annotated Code of Maryland Sections 10-508(a)(3)(7)
PRESENT:
Mayor Barrie Tilghman, Council President William Stacey,
Council Vice President Joseph Scott, Councilwoman Rachel Polk,
Councilwoman Lavonzella Siggers, Councilman C. T. Webster,
City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, Executive Officer John Pick,
City Solicitor Paul Wilber, Public Works Director John Jacobs
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At 8:18 p.m. in Room 301 of the City/County Government Building, Mr.
Webster moved and Mr. Scott seconded to convene in Closed Executive Session
for the purpose of consulting with legal counsel on the acquisition of
property negotiations as permitted under the Annotated Code of Maryland
Sections 10-508(a)(3)(7). All voted in favor of the motion. Note: Ms. Siggers
was not present during the vote to close.
A status report was received from City Solicitor Paul Wilber and Public Works Director John Jacobs. No further direction was given by the Council.
At 8:28 p.m., upon a motion and a second by Mrs. Polk and Ms. Siggers,
respectively, the Council unanimously voted to adjourn the closed session.
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City Clerk
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Council President