CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
#15 MEETING AUGUST 11, 2003
PRESENT
Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman Council President Lavonzella Siggers
Council Vice President Joseph L. Scott Councilman Michael Day
Councilwoman Rachel Polk Councilman C. T. Webster *
* arrived 7:05 p.m.
IN ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, CMC, Executive Officer John Pick, City Solicitor Paul Wilber, Finance Director John Cawley, Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, CPPB, C.P.M., Planning & Zoning Director Jack Lenox, 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 Siggers called the meeting to order. The Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited.
Mrs. Polk moved to add Ordinance No. 1884 (imposing a moratorium on the processing of Historic District Commission applications) as an emergency item to the agenda. The motion died for lack of a second.
Mrs. Polk moved to add Certificates of Appreciation to the beginning of the agenda. Mr. Day seconded and the vote was unanimous.
On a motion by Mr. Day and seconded by Mr. Scott, the agenda as amended was unanimously approved.
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION
Mayor Tilghman presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Fernando Guerrero for winning the Junior Golden Gloves, 154-pound division, national title in Syracuse, New York. Council President Siggers presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Antoinette Turner for winning the 2003 Miss Salisbury crown and representing Salisbury in the Miss Maryland 2003 Pageant.
APPROVAL OF JULY 28, 2003 MINUTES
On a motion and a second by Mrs. Polk and Mr. Webster, respectively, the minutes of July 28, 2003 were unanimously approved.
AWARD OF BIDS
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve the Award of Bids. Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner presented the following items for approval:
1. Declaration of surplus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-0-
(1981 American LaFrance, Century Series, Engine 203
Correction noted by Ms. Turner – funds from the sale will be returned to the General Fund rather than the Fire Department budget.
2. Lift Winch (001-2405-522.70-30: over budget) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,597.70
Rescue Northwest
3. Engineering Project Order #5063 Change Order No. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,933.10
Water and Sewer Extensions to Stadium & WWCC
(302-3705-537.30-20; 302-4190-537.30-20)
Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP
4. Engineering Project Order #5159 Change Order No. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$17,060.00
NECR Phase II, 346 R/W Plats (301-3220-539.30-20)
McCrone, Inc.
Correction noted by Ms. Turner – final contract sum should be $29,100 rather than $20,600.
The above items were unanimously approved.
ORDINANCE NO. 1883 - 1ST READING - FY04 BUDGET AMENDMENT - AMENDING DEBT SERVICE FUND BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING $265,404 TO MAKE REQUIRED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOND ISSUE PAYMENT
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Day seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1883 for first reading. Finance Director John Cawley reported that the budget amendment corrects his error made during the budget process. Ordinance No. 1883 appropriates $265,404 from the Bond Fund Surplus to made the required debt payment for the City’s 2003 Bond Issue to the Department of Community Affairs.
After discussion, Ordinance No. 1883 for first reading passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 998 - ACCEPTING $50,510 IN STATE GRANT FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR THE CHURCH STREET HOTSPOT NEIGHBORHOOD
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 998. Ms. Deborah Stam presented Resolution No. 998 accepting $50,510 in State grant funds, awarded through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention for the Church Street neighborhood, for the following projects:
• School Resource Officer/Wicomico Middle School/Sheriff’s Dept. $20,000
• Narcotics Buy - Bust Operations/Salisbury Police Dept. $ 7,579
• Prostitution Stings/Salisbury Police Dept. $ 6,431
• Neighborhood Advocate - Lead Coordinator/Mayor’s Office $ 7,500
• East Salisbury Elementary School/Summer Program $ 3,000
• Wicomico Middle School/Dream Catchers After-School Program $ 3,000
• Grace United Methodist Church/Teens On The Go Program $ 3,000
Resolution No. 998 was unanimously approved.
RESOLUTION NO. 999 - ACCEPTING $17,831 IN STATE GRANT FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION TO FUND A CIVILIAN POSITION OF VICTIM ASSISTANCE OFFICER
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 999. Major Jeff Livingston introduced Resolution No. 999 accepting $17,831 in State grant funds awarded through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention to fund a civilian position of Victim Assistance Officer for the seventh year.
Resolution No. 999 passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 1000 - ACCEPTING GIFT OF A PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE FOR THE WEST END OF THE SALISBURY ZOO IN MEMORY OF BENJAMIN LAYTON
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 1000. Zoo Director Jim Rapp presented Resolution No. 1000 accepting the gift of a community-built playground structure at the existing playground site near the west entrance of the Salisbury Zoo. Funds for the playground will be raised by the Family and Friends of Benjamin Layton. Chris and Hendrika Layton wished to create the playground in memory of their son who died of leukemia last year at the age of four.
Resolution No. 1000 passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 1001 - ACCEPTING GIFT OF VETERINARY SURGERY EQUIPMENT FROM THE SALISBURY ZOO COMMISSION, INC. FOR THE VETERINARY CLINIC AT THE SALISBURY ZOO
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 1001. Resolution No. 1001, as introduced by Zoo Director Jim Rapp, accepts the gift of veterinary equipment (stainless steel surgery table and surgery lights) from the Salisbury Zoo Commission, Inc. for the veterinary clinic at the Salisbury Zoo.
Resolution No. 1001 passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 1002 - ENTERPRISE ZONE ELIGIBILITY - KRAUS DEVELOPMENT LLC
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 1002. Executive Officer John Pick recommended approval of Kraus Development LLC’s request for Enterprise Zone designation. The company recently invested approximately $1,300,000 in improvements.
Resolution No. 1002 was unanimously approved.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Highlights of public comments included:
• welcomed Councilman Webster back to the Council;
• urged Council to address the issues surrounding the Historic District Commission litigation cases;
• encouraged Council to move forward with legislation for licensing and registering of rental properties;
• referred to two problem rental properties in the Boston Neighborhood;
• questioned how $180,000 grant for firearm crimes would be utilized;
• residential permit parking - next neighborhood meeting scheduled for September 2, 2003;
• clarified misunderstanding concerning installation of video cameras at PAPCO - never stated they would not allow the city to install video cameras outside (copy of letter attached to minutes);
• questioned having a surplus in Debt Service Fund;
• Historic District Commission court cases – questioned if the City was going to spend money on the pending 20 cases;
• urged Council to place a city manager form of government question on the next election ballot;
• questioned funding for Sheriff’s Department in $50,510 State grant award to City;
• shared information from Fruitland’s annual newsletter concerning how their Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade was funded (i.e., impact fees imposed on new developers) and their Urban Service Agreement with the County in regards to annexations;
• Chestnut Street bearing the burden with Isabella Street traffic pattern change;
• appreciated portable toilets at the Bandstand area in the City Park; and
• requested results of sewer testings in Camden Avenue area.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Highlights of Mayor Tilghman’s comments included:
• pleased with the opportunity to memorialize Benjamin Layton with the playground structure for the west end of the Salisbury Zoo;
• a City Park Committee Resolution will be coming to Council;
• Urban Greenway Trail Walk scheduled for August 17, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. to discuss citizens’ ideas for the Greenway; and
• State of the City address to be televised live on Access 26 - August 12, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilman Webster
• appreciated the warm welcome on his return to Council;
• Isabella Street traffic pattern change - believed it was working very well and the neighborhood appreciated it; changes were being discussed which included Chestnut Street; and
• Historic District Commission court cases - concern that certain individuals were not allowed to testify.
Councilman Scott
• requested two additional microphones and podiums for Council Chambers.
Councilman Day
• Isabella Street - Newtown Traffic Action Team will be meeting with the Salisbury Traffic and Safety Committee this week to offer some solutions;
• council/manager form of government had already been turned down twice; and
• reviewed the tape of Council’s August 6, 2003 work session - no consensus to go forward with a moratorium ordinance.
Councilwoman Polk
• voiced concern with the continuous statements made by The Daily Times that the Council had been operating at a stalemate during Councilman Webster’s absence;
• reported that out of 23 pieces of legislation (since Councilman Webster’s absence) the Council voted 4-0 on 16 of the 23; 3-1 on 2 of the 23; and 2-2 on 5 of the 23;
• clarified Daily Times headline stating that the City Council admonished the Historic District Commission was inaccurate – Council admonished Administration for not giving the Commission the tools to perform their job (i.e., only Newtown Historic District had been classified); and
• believed there was a consensus for the City Solicitor to prepare an ordinance to declare a moratorium on the Historic District Commission applications until the City did its review.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WRAP-UP
Council President Siggers commented:
• congratulated 100 Good Men for their annual celebration this weekend and for all they do for the youth and families in the City of Salisbury and Wicomico County;
• congratulated First Baptist Church for the groundbreaking of their Community Center;
• requested information from City Solicitor on how much has been spent for his services in responding to Public Information Act requests;
• Johnson’s Pond Fishing/Boating Pier - hoped the community was not disrupted;
• should look at council/manager form of government; and
• thought Council was discredited too many times by The Daily Times – concern that radio stations read their articles via their medium which allows misinformation to be perpetuated.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION
AUGUST 20, 2003
TIME & PLACE: 8:05 p.m., Room 305 - City/County Government Building
PURPOSE: Discuss specifics of negotiations for downtown development bid proposals
VOTE TO CLOSE: Unanimous
CITATION: Annotated Code of Maryland Section 10-508(a)(14)
PRESENT: Council President Lavonzella Siggers, Council Vice President Joseph Scott, Councilman Michael Day, Councilwoman Rachel Polk, Councilman C. T. Webster, City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, Executive Officer John Pick, Finance Director John Cawley
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At 8:05 p.m. in Conference Room 305 of the City/County Government Building, Mr. Webster moved to convene in Closed Executive Session to discuss the negotiations for the downtown development bid proposals as permitted under the Annotated Code of Maryland Section
10-508(a)(14). Mrs. Polk seconded and the vote was unanimous.
After addressing the issues brought forth at the last discussion, the Council gave their consensus to Administration on how to proceed with the negotiations.
At 8:16 p.m., upon a motion and a second by Mr. Scott and Mr. Webster, respectively, the closed session adjourned and Council reconvened in open session.
City Clerk
Council President