CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
#14 MEETING JULY 23, 2001
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, Police Chief Al Webster, Fire Chief Stephen Brezler, Finance Director John Cawley, Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, C.P.M., CPPB, BHZ Director William Holland, Public Works Director John Jacobs, Planning & Zoning Director David Nutter 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 was repeated and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mayor Tilghman commented on the passing of former City Councilman Sam Seidel. Mr. Seidel served on the City Council from 1966 to 1986. A moment of silence was held in his memory.
Mr. Stacey reported that Resolution No. 779 had been requested to be pulled from the agenda since the $13,000 was already included in the budget. On a motion and a second by Ms. Siggers and Mrs. Polk, respectively, the Council voted unanimously to pull Resolution No. 779 from the agenda. The agenda, as amended, was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF JULY 9, 2001 MINUTES
On a motion by Mrs. Polk and seconded by Ms. Siggers, the minutes of July 9, 2001 were unanimously approved.
ORDINANCE NO. 1816 - 2ND READING - BUDGET AMENDMENT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE TRUITT STREET STORM WATER PROJECT
Mr. Webster moved and Mrs. Polk seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1816 for second reading, a budget amendment appropriating $450,000 for the Truitt Street storm water project. Public Works Director John Jacobs explained that this project will provide flood relief for 69.5 acres and will also benefit 11.3 acres (of the total 69.5 acres) by eliminating storm water discharging into the sewer system.
Ordinance No. 1816 for second reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1817 - 2ND READING - APPROVING REVISED PLANNING DEPARTMENT FEES
Ms. Siggers moved and Mrs. Polk seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1817 for second reading. Planning & Zoning Director David Nutter presented Ordinance No. 1817 which increases the user/permit fees for planning and zoning activities. The new fee structure more accurately reflects the actual costs involved in processing the information.
After a brief discussion, Ordinance No. 1817 for second reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1818 - 2ND READING - CLOSING OF WATER STREET
Mr. Webster moved and Mrs. Polk seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1818 for second reading. City Solicitor Paul Wilber reported that approximately one hundred feet of Old Water Street would be closed which currently provides an entrance to the parking lot for the State Government Building on Baptist Street. The City will reserve its right to maintain utilities.
Ordinance No. 1818 for second reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1819 - 1ST READING - AMENDING SECTIONS 15.04.010 AND 15.04.020 OF THE SALISBURY MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT THE 2000 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, THE 2000 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, THE 2000 INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE, THE 2000 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, AND TO ADOPT CORRESPONDING AMENDMENTS IN SECTIONS 15.04.010 AND 15.04.030 AND ADDING SECTION 15.04.040
Mrs. Polk moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1819 for first reading. Ordinance No. 1819, as introduced by Building, Housing & Zoning Director William Holland, adopts the latest building performance standards as adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development in the State of Maryland. Mr. Holland also noted that these codes are recognized throughout the world.
After discussion, including that builders receive adequate notification, Ordinance No. 1819 for first reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1820 - 1ST READING - FY02 BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROPRIATING $15,000 TO PUBLIC ACCESS ACCOUNT
Mrs. Polk moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1820 for first reading. Council President William Stacey introduced Ordinance No. 1820 as a FY02 budget amendment to provide additional funds ($15,000) for Public Access Channel 26 in order to accommodate their budget deficit.
Although she supported the concept of Public Access and the service they bring to the community, Mrs. Polk had serious concerns with the request. The Council did not fund the 1% increase in the cable franchise fee (representing $45,000), as well as other budget requests that would have directly impacted the public good.
Mr. Webster believed Public Access 26 to be a benefit for the City and opined that Public Access may fold if additional funding was not obtained. It was Mr. Scott's understanding that Public Access originally requested $50,000 with the Mayor cutting to $30,000.
Ms. Siggers expressed her concern with Council's poor exercise over the budget and wished that Public Access had received every penney they had requested because of their valuable service they provide to the public. Even though she was in support of Public Access 26, she was still debating whether to support the budget amendment request because it would set a precedent.
After further discussion, Messrs. Scott, Stacey and Webster voted in favor of Ordinance No. 1820 for first reading. Mrs. Polk voted nay and Ms. Siggers abstained.
RESOLUTION NO. 780 - APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE MARINA COMMISSION
Mrs. Polk moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve Resolution No. 780. Mayor Barrie Tilghman recommended the appointments of Thomas Elliott and J. Stacey Hart for terms ending January 2003 and the reappointments of S. Norman Holland, Jr. and Michael Abercrombie, Sr. for terms ending January 2003.
Resolution No. 780 passed unanimously.
REQUEST FOR ANNEXATION - HONEYSUCKLE DRIVE/THOMPSON PROPERTY ANNEXATION
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to bring to the floor the discussion of the Honeysuckle Drive/Thompson property annexation request. Public Works Director John Jacobs briefed Council on the request to annex 1.3 acres on the north side of Honeysuckle Drive. A zoning classification of R-8A was requested upon annexation (currently zoned Residential R-15
in the County). Five semi-detached dwellings are proposed for development with impact on existing water and sewer expected to be approximately 2,400 gallons per day. Mr. Jacobs and his staff recommended moving forward with the annexation request since it was a small area and the impact on the system was negligible.
After discussing the other projects proposed for water and sewer services, Council voted unanimously for the City Solicitor to draft an annexation resolution for the Honeysuckle Drive/Thompson property for Council's consideration on August 27, 2001.
AWARD OF BIDS
The following item was presented for approval by Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner:
Contract No. 10-97-SW Truitt Street Storm Drain (001-3205-532.43-03)
American Paving ............................................................................................$390,407.00
The above item was unanimously approved upon a motion and a second by Ms. Siggers and Mr. Scott, respectively.
MAYOR'S COMMENTS
Executive Officer John Pick related that Mayor Tilghman and others were diligently working on the Community Legacy grant application which is due tomorrow.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mr. Scott hoped that the Mayor, Administration and Council would get on the same page regarding water and sewer. In his opinion, the growth area to expand the City's tax base was to the east.
Mrs. Polk commended the Mayor for her work on the Community Legacy grant application. Mrs. Polk pointed out that Wor-Wic and Perdue Stadium would not be annexed into the City, only extended water and sewer services. In regards to the perception that the budget was the Mayor's budget, Mrs. Polk clarified that it was the City's operating budget which was put together by a collaborative effort with all the department heads.
Mr. Webster believed the City was headed for trouble with its water and sewer system if it was not addressed. Mr. Webster questioned who would be representing the City on the Tri-County Council. Executive Officer Pick informed Council that there would be one person from a municipality selected to represent all the municipalities of Wicomico County. An individual has been selected, but that person has yet to consent.
Ms. Siggers commented on the following: 1) Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable meetings being held in different neighborhoods each month (held in Doverdale last weekend); 2) Salisbury's matching grant funds now available for public access; 3) Council looking at redistricting and hoped that a long-range plan would include further development of districts within the City and an opportunity for District I residents to participate every two years ; and 4) celebration of opening of new restroom facilities and water fountain at the zoo.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Julia Hancock suggested putting notices in the areas that the Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable had cleaned up encouraging residents to continue to keep the community clean and improve the appearance of the City
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WRAP-UP
Mr. Stacey provided an update on the water and sewer issue for Wor-Wic and Perdue Stadium.
With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
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City Clerk
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Council President