CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 11, 1999 MEETING #1

PRESENT

Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman
Council President Robert Cannon
Council Vice President Frank Himelright
Councilwoman Lavonzella Siggers
Councilman Palmer Gillis
Councilman James Ireton

IN ATTENDANCE

CONVENING - APPROVAL OF MINUTES DECEMBER 28, 1998

The Mayor and Council met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The Lord's Prayer was repeated and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Council President Cannon called the meeting to order.

On a motion by Mr. Himelright and seconded by Mr. Ireton, the minutes of December 28, 1998 were unanimously approved.

CONFIRMATION OF FUNDING REQUEST UNDER RECREATION GRANT PROGRAM

Grants/Special Projects Director Deborah Stam presented the following two projects for the Recreation & Parks Grant Program application:

1. Waterside Playground - The estimated cost for improvements and installation of playground equipment is $10,335. The City will request $5,167.50 in Recreation and Parks funds to be matched by $5,167.50 in City funds and in-kind services.

2. City Park Playground (west end of Zoo) - The estimated cost for the installation of new playground equipment and improvements is $4,665. The City will request $2,332.50 in Recreation & Parks funds to be matched by $2,332.50 in City funds and in-kind services.

Mr. Himelright felt the City Park playground should have the larger amount of money allocated since more children would be using that facility. Mr. Gillis and Ms. Siggers pointed out that this issue had been discussed during a Council work session with the consensus of Waterside being the #1 priority.

After further discussion, all voted in favor of the projects as presented with the exception of Mr. Himelright who voted nay.

ORDINANCE NO. 1703 - 2ND READING - TRASH CANS LEFT ON STREET

Mr. Cannon reported that Ordinance No. 1703 was discussed in a work session with a consensus to withdraw it and revise it with a new ordinance. Mr. Gillis motioned to withdraw Ordinance No. 1703. Mr. Himelright seconded and the vote was unanimous.

ORDINANCE NO. 1706 - 1ST READING - FY99 BUDGET AMENDMENT - WELLHEAD PROTECTION PROGRAM STATE GRANT

Mr. Gillis motioned and Mr. Himelright seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1706 to bring it on the floor for discussion. Public Works Director Wil Elliott addressed Ordinance No. 1706, a budget amendment of $10,500 for a wellhead protection State grant.

Ordinance No. 1706 for first reading passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION NO. 623 - SC7-1 CHARTER AMENDMENT - PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT TREASURER

Ms. Siggers motioned and Mr. Ireton seconded to approve Resolution No. 623 to bring it on the floor for discussion. City Solicitor Paul Wilber presented Resolution No. 623 as a Resolution amending the Charter to designate the City Treasurer as Finance Director and to provide for an Assistant Treasurer.

After a brief discussion, Resolution No. 623 passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION NO. 629 - CHARTER AMENDMENT - DELETION OF SC7-2 AND RENUMBERING OF FOLLOWING SECTIONS

Mr. Himelright motioned and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve Resolution No. 629 to bring it on the floor for discussion. Resolution No. 629, as briefed by City Solicitor Paul Wilber, repeals Section SC7-2 of the Charter relating to City Clerk, Collector and Treasurer and renumbers the remaining Sections. This was merely a housekeeping item since Section SC7-2 was outdated.

With no further discussion, Resolution No. 629 passed unanimously.

PUBLIC INFORMATION - RECYCLING PRESENTATION

Council President Cannon gave an overview of the recycling program which is anticipated to be awarded to BFI at the next Council meeting. The City-wide program, which is voluntary, is designed for co-mingled items (i.e., aluminum, plastic and glass) to be placed in a bin and placed at the curb for collection once a week. Newspapers will be set out in paper bags for collection. BFI will provide each resident with an 18 gallon bin. Residents in multi-family locations would bring their recycling bins to a common collection area around their complex. Residents will not incur any additional costs.

Collection would begin April 1st for a six month trial period. The goal is to reduce the twice per week trash collection to once per week for solid waste and once per week for recycling. It is estimated that recycling should reduce the amount of solid waste taken to the landfill by 20%, saving approximately $100,000 in tipping fees.

AWARD OF BIDS

The following items were presented for approval by Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, C.P.M., CPPB:

1. Declaration of Surplus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-0-
2. Professional Services (001-1701-515.33-01)
Robert A. Eaton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,243.00

Upon a motion by Mr. Himelright and seconded by Mr. Ireton, the above items were unanimously approved.

MAYOR'S COMMENTS

Mayor Tilghman provided an overview of the issues being addressed by her office and the departments, and briefly recapped the results of the community day held on Saturday, January 9th.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS

Council President Cannon highlighted the topics being discussed in Council work sessions and items scheduled for future discussion.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mr. Leo Welch, representing the East Side Men's Club, asked Council to reconsider their tax credit request since the County had approved their request. Mr. Robert Ryan thought that SSU students could take on the project of educating the public about recycling. Mr. John Robinson inquired on the status of losing police officers. Councilwoman Siggers felt that Saturday's community day was highly productive. Ms. Mitchell complimented the Public Works Department for their quick service in handling a trash complaint on her street.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION JANUARY 20, 1999

TIME & PLACE: 4:30 p.m., January 20, 1999 - Room 301, City/County Government Building
PURPOSE: Discuss legal status of EPA and Canal Woods cases
VOTE TO CLOSE: Unanimous (Note: Councilwoman Siggers was not present during the vote to close.)
CITATION: Annotated Code of Maryland Section 10-508(a)(8)
PRESENT: Council President Robert Cannon, Council Vice President Frank Himelright, Councilwoman Siggers (arrived 4:35 p.m.), Councilman Palmer Gillis, Councilman Ireton, City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, Executive Officer John Pick and City Solicitor Paul Wilber

At 4:30 p.m., Mr. Himelright motioned to convene into Closed Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the legal status of the EPA and Canal Woods cases with the City Solicitor as permitted under the Annotated Code of Maryland Section 10-508(a)(8). Mr. Ireton seconded and the vote was unanimous. Ms. Siggers arrived after the vote to close was taken.

Mr. Wilber briefed Council on the status of both cases. After discussion, Mr. Wilber was given direction by Council on how to proceed on both issues. Ms. Siggers motioned to adjourn the closed session at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Ireton seconded and the vote was unanimous.

City Clerk Council President