CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
#5 MEETING MARCH 10, 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
IN ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, CMC, Executive Officer John Pick, City Solicitor Paul Wilber, Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, CPPB, C.P.M., Public Works Director John Jacobs, 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.
The following items were unanimously added as emergency items to the agenda upon a motion by Mrs. Polk and seconded by Mr. Webster:
• Ordinance No. 1875 - approving a contract between the City of Salisbury and the Wicomico County Board of Elections and the Wicomico County Council;
• Resolution No. 943 - changing the two-way traffic flow and restricting public access to a one-way traffic flow on West Isabella Street and East William Street; and
• Resolution No. 944 - accepting gift of a gazebo for the Jackson Square Park and accepting gifts of a drip irrigation system, a park bench, and replacement and installation of the backstop at Woodcock Park from the Camden Neighborhood Association.
Upon a motion and a second by Mrs. Polk and Mr. Webster, respectively, Resolution No. 940 (authorizing City to issue and sell General Obligation Bonds to finance upgrade to the Wastewater Treatment Plant) was unanimously deleted from the agenda.
Upon a motion by Mrs. Polk and seconded by Mr. Scott, the Council unanimously approved adding to the agenda a presentation of an award to Executive Officer John Pick.
The agenda, as amended, was unanimously approved upon a motion and a second by Mrs. Polk and Mr. Scott, respectively.
AWARD OF BIDS
The following items were presented for approval by Director of Procurement and Parking Carol Turner:
1. Declaration of surplus (printer). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-0-
2. Stihl cut-off saw w/guard (601-4105-532.60-12; unbudgeted capital) . . . . . . . . .$1,221.69
Rental Service Corporation
3. Contract No. A-7-03; citywide concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$35,800.00
Change Order No. 1 (105-8650-552.70-24)
Malone & Phillips
The above items were unanimously approved upon a motion by Mrs. Polk and seconded by Mr. Scott.
PRESENTATION OF AWARD
Ms. Siggers presented Executive Officer John Pick an award for completion of the Academy of Excellence in Local Government. It was acknowledged that Council President Siggers and Mayor Tilghman also received an award for completion of the Academy.
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 24, 2003 MINUTES
The February 24, 2003 minutes were unanimously approved upon a motion and a second by Mr. Webster and Mr. Scott, respectively.
ORDINANCE NO. 1871 - 2ND READING - REVISION OF “FAMILY” DEFINITION AND DENSITY PROVISIONS OF THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Scott seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1871 for second reading. Mr. Webster moved to postpone Ordinance No. 1871 (questionable language in the legislation) in order to discuss it at the next work session and contingent upon the completion of the landlord licensing study before bringing it back on a regular agenda. Mr. Scott seconded the motion. All voted in favor of postponing Ordinance No. 1871 for second reading with the exception of Ms. Siggers who voted nay.
ORDINANCE NO. 1874 - 2ND READING - APPROVING RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
Mr. Webster moved and Mr. Scott seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1874 for second reading. Public Works Director John Jacobs presented Ordinance No. 1874 implementing a recycling program for certain materials for city residents who reside in multi-family dwellings effective October 1, 2003.
Ordinance No. 1874 for second reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1875 - 1st READING - APPROVING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SALISBURY AND THE WICOMICO BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE WICOMICO COUNTY COUNCIL
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1875 for first reading. City Solicitor Paul Wilber introduced Ordinance No. 1875 approving an interim contract between the City and the Wicomico Board of Elections and the Wicomico County Council for services relating to special elections and verifying petitions. The contract expires August 1, 2003.
After discussion with Wicomico County Elections Director Judy Ritter, Ordinance No. 1875 for first reading passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING - RESOLUTION NO. 929 - U.S. ROUTE 50 WEST - TODD ANNEXATION
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 929. Public Works Director John Jacobs presented Resolution No. 929 annexing .69 acres located on the northerly side of Boundary Street and the easterly side of U.S. Route 50 known as the U.S. Route 50 West-Todd Annexation. The Salisbury Animal Hospital site would be zoned General Commercial upon annexation and would become effective April 24, 2003 subject to referendum.
Resolution No. 929 passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 941 - REAPPOINTMENT TO ETHICS COMMISSION
Mr. Webster moved and Mr. Day seconded to approve Resolution No. 941. Mayor Tilghman recommended the reappointment of Janet S. Horne to the Ethics Commission for a term ending September 1, 2006.
Resolution No. 941 was unanimously approved.
RESOLUTION NO. 942 - ENTERPRISE ZONE ELIGIBILITY - DELAWARE ELEVATOR
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 942. Executive Officer John Pick introduced Resolution No. 942 and recommended that Delaware Elevator, Inc. be eligible to receive Enterprise Zone benefits since the company added eleven new employees and invested more than $50,000 in the property. Mr. Pick requested that the sixth Whereas paragraph (last line) be amended to read 2209-2211 and 2210 Allen Drive (adding 2210).
Mr. Scott moved to amend Resolution No. 942 by adding 2210 in the sixth Whereas paragraph, last line, as recommended by the Executive Officer. Mrs. Polk seconded and the amendment passed unanimously. Resolution No. 942, as amended, was unanimously approved.
RESOLUTION NO. 943 - CHANGING THE TWO-WAY TRAFFIC FLOW AND RESTRICTING PUBLIC ACCESS TO A ONE-WAY TRAFFIC FLOW ON WEST ISABELLA STREET AND EAST WILLIAM STREET
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 943. Public Works Director John Jacobs provided a presentation on restricting the public access to a one-way traffic flow on West Isabella Street and East William Street. Flex posts would be installed at the intersection of Mill and West Isabella Streets and the intersection of Ellen and East William Streets for a trial period of eighteen months beginning June 1, 2003.
Several residents from the Newtown area voiced their support of the proposal since it would improve the safety and quality of life in their neighborhood. One citizen requested that the impact of traffic coming off of Riverside Drive be considered as well.
Ms. Siggers acknowledged that she was not in support of making Isabella a one-way street because of the impact it would have on the Westside residents and the State Highway Administration was not recommending directing the traffic onto Mill Street.
Resolution No. 943 passed on a 4-1 vote with Ms. Siggers casting the nay vote.
RESOLUTION NO. 944 - ACCEPTING GIFTS FROM THE CAMDEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Scott seconded to approve Resolution No. 944. Mr. John Hall, on behalf of the Camden Neighborhood Association, addressed Resolution No. 944 accepting the following gifts from the Association:
• in conjunction with a Weed and Seed grant, a gazebo for the Jackson Square Park for a value of $8,295; and
• a drip irrigation system valuing $400, a park bench valuing $357, and replacement and installation of the backstop valuing $645 at Woodcock Park.
After discussing the plumbing concern regarding the drip irrigation system (to ensure not in violation of Plumbing Code), Resolution No. 944 passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Members from the audience voiced their opinions on pay increases and a viable retirement plan for Police Department, recall petitions, need for unified front between Mayor and Council, and parking garage (i.e., training on firefighting equipment and leaks in roof),
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Tilghman commented on the upcoming meeting in Newtown, trip to Annapolis to testify on behalf of a bill regarding annexation advertisements, Process Action Teams, and congratulated Council on passage of the traffic changes in Newtown.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mrs. Polk read her letter that was published in the March 10th edition of The Daily Times concerning the Police Department issue. Mr. Day voiced his opinion on the recall, attendance at the Salisbury Zoo over the weekend, and the opening of the Park and Flea. Mr. Scott thanked the public for attending and voiced his opinion on the recall. Mr. Webster thanked Access 26 and Steve Burgoon for televising the proceedings, congratulated the mayor-elect of Laurel, Delaware, commented on the proposed legislation to abolish the red light cameras, complimented the firefighters for their presentation last week, and expressed his opinion on the Police Chief issue.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WRAP-UP
Ms. Siggers congratulated the Newtown residents for their efforts in getting their neighborhood issues addressed and referred to an article in the January 29th edition of The Daily Times which in her view depicted misrepresentation of the truth.
Messrs. Day, Scott and Webster left the meeting at 9:50 p.m. Without a quorum, the meeting was adjourned.
CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION
MARCH 19, 2003
TIME & PLACE: 6:50 p.m., Room 305 - City/County Government Building
PURPOSE: Discuss proposals submitted for downtown development before awarding bid
VOTE TO CLOSE: Unanimous
CITATION: Annotated Code of Maryland Section 10-508(a)(14)
PRESENT: Council President Lavonzella Siggers (left at 6:58 p.m.), Council Vice President Joseph Scott, Councilman Michael Day, Councilwoman Rachel Polk, Councilman C. T. Webster, City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, Executive Officer John Pick, Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner
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At 6:50 p.m. in Room 305 of the City/County Government Building, Mr. Scott moved to convene in Closed Executive Session to discuss the proposals submitted for downtown development before making an award. Mrs. Polk seconded and the vote was unanimous.
Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner briefed Council on each of the proposals. After discussion, the Council requested that additional information be submitted to the City Council for their review before making a decision. On a motion and a second by Mr. Webster and Mrs. Polk, respectively, the closed session adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
City Clerk
Council President