CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
#6 MEETING MARCH 26, 2001
PRESENT
Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman Council President Lavonzella Siggers *
Council Vice President Joseph L. Scott Councilwoman Rachel S. Polk
Councilman William Stacey
* arrived 7:25 p.m.
IN ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, Executive Officer John Pick, City Solicitor Paul Wilber, Police
Chief Al Webster, Acting Fire Chief Tom Lewis, Finance Director John Cawley, Director of
Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, C.P.M., CPPB, BHZ Director William Holland, Public
Works Director John Jacobs, and interested Citizens and Members of the Press.
ABSENT
Councilman C. T. Webster
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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 Vice
President Scott called the meeting to order. The Lord's Prayer was repeated and the Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 12, 2001
On a motion by Mrs. Polk and seconded by Mr. Stacey, the minutes of March 12, 2001 were
unanimously approved.
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION
Mayor Tilghman presented Certificates of Appreciation to Steven M. Fowler, Jerome Hudson,
Gary A. Comegys, Greg H. Smith, Joseph R. Bachtler, Rev. J. Harvey Dixon and Dr. Lisa
Seldomridge. The individuals were honored for their extraordinary commitment of time, talent
and judgment in serving as members of the City of Salisbury Fire Chief Screening Committee.
David Downes, Michael B. Tilghman and Jeffery O'Neill Hurley were also recipients, but were
unable to attend to accept their certificates.
ORDINANCE NO. 1803 - 2ND READING - BUDGET AMENDMENT - WEED AND SEED
FUNDS ($17,000) TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY POLICING
Mr. Stacey moved and Mrs. Polk seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1803, a budget amendment
for accepting Weed and Seed funds of $17,000 to enhance community policing.
Police Chief Al Webster explained that the grant funds will be used to enhance community
policing for the Weed and Seed program.
Ordinance No. 1803 for second reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1804 - 2ND READING - BUDGET AMENDMENT - PROVIDING FOR
THE EXPENDITURE OF RECOVERED MONEY ($5,295) FOR AN OPEN HOUSE AT
THE SALISBURY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NUMEROUS YOUTH PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS TO BE HELD IN 2001
Mr. Stacey moved and Mrs. Polk seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1804, a budget amendment
providing for the expenditure of $5,295 in recovered money for an open house at the Salisbury
Police Department and numerous youth programs and events to be held in 2001.
Ordinance No. 1804, as highlighted by Police Chief Al Webster, provides for the expenditure of
funds to be used for the Police Department's open house on May 12, 2001. The monies will
also be used to fund several youth programs.
Ordinance No. 1804 for second reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1806 - 1ST READING - BUDGET AMENDMENT - TO PROVIDE FOR
THE DEPOSIT OF STATE GRANT FUNDS ($1,000) AWARDED THROUGH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION TO ENHANCE
COMMUNITY POLICING EFFORTS AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN THE
DESIGNATED HOTSPOT I AREA
Mr. Stacey moved and Mrs. Polk seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1806, a budget amendment
providing for the deposit of $1,000 in State grant funds awarded through the Governor's Office
of Crime Control and Prevention to enhance community policing efforts and quality of life issues
in the designated HotSpot I area.
Police Chief Al Webster introduced Ordinance No. 1806 and reported that the funds will be used
in the targeted HotSpot I area for the Earn-A-Bike Program (approximately ten bicycles) and
the purchase of bicycle helmets.
Ordinance No. 1806 for first reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1796 - 1ST READING - CLOSING OF FORD AND SPRUCE STREETS
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Stacey seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1796, closing Ford and
Spruce Streets.
City Solicitor Paul Wilber explained that Ordinance No. 1796 provides for the closing of two
paper streets, Ford and Spruce Streets, as requested by Cecil L. Decker, Jr. and Cecil L. Decker,
III. If passed by Council, the City would execute a Quit Claim Deed for the street bed to the
adjoining property owners. The Deckers also requested that a portion of the railroad right-of-
way, which crosses the Decker property and adjoins Cypress Street, be declared surplus and a
Quit Claim Deed be executed for that parcel.
Mr. Stacey reported that the City Council had discussed this issue in a work session. Based
upon the appearance of the Deckers current recycling site, he preferred some other type of
business established in this location. Mr. Stacey believed the City's growth plans should
include beautification and development, but he had not seen any suggestions for development
using recycling plants.
In Mrs. Polk's opinion, the residents in that area should have a say on the appearance of their
neighborhood. During a recent public meeting, the residents spoke very clearly that they did not
wish to have a recycling center within their neighborhood.
Ms. Julia Hancock recalled a discussion during the work session of putting a screen of trees in
the area facing the residential street.
Mr. Phil Parker, whose company prepared the site plan for the Deckers, pointed out that the
Deckers did agree to landscape the area to separate their business from the residential area.
Plans also include enclosing the operation with a fence. Mr. Parker reported that no recycling
will be done on site. The facility will serve as a shipping/collection point with the recyclables
sent to Baltimore where the actual recycling takes place. A larger building is planned so all the
storage can be inside the building. Mr. Parker opined that the streets, as they exist, would make
any commercial use of that property very difficult.
With no further discussion, Ordinance No. 1796 failed to pass with Mrs. Polk and Messrs. Stacey
and Scott voting nay.
ORDINANCE NO. 1805 - 1ST READING - BUDGET AMENDMENT - TO PROVIDE FOR
THE FIRST INTEREST PAYMENT ON THE PARKING GARAGE BOND LOAN
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Stacey seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1805, a budget amendment
providing for the first interest payment on the parking garage bond loan.
Director of Procurement and Parking Carol Turner introduced Ordinance No. 1805 and
reported that the first interest payment of $11,558 is due by May 1, 2001. Ordinance No. 1805
moves the funds from the parking unbudgeted surplus account into the budget to pay the interest
payment.
After a brief discussion, Ordinance No. 1805 for first reading passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 762 - ACCEPTING A GIFT OF EXERCISE EQUIPMENT FROM
REID H. STERRETT, JR. TO THE SALISBURY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Mr. Stacey moved and Mrs. Polk seconded to approve Resolution No. 762, accepting a gift of
exercise equipment from Reid H. Sterrett, Jr. to the Salisbury Fire Department.
Acting Fire Chief Tom Lewis presented Resolution No. 762 and reported that Mr. Reid Sterrett
stored the exercise equipment at the Rt. 50 Armory after closing his gym in Pocomoke. Two of
the volunteer firefighters, who are members of the National Guard, expressed an interest in the
equipment and were told the City could have it if the equipment was moved out of their way.
Resolution No. 762 passed unanimously.
AWARD OF BIDS
The following items were presented for approval by Director of Procurement and Parking Carol
Turner:
1. Declaration of Surplus (Pepper Fog Gun) . . . . . . . . .-0-
2. Declaration of Surplus (1988 GMC ½ ton van) . . . . . . .-0-
Upon a motion and a second by Mrs. Polk and Mr. Stacey, respectively, the above items were
unanimously approved.
MAYOR'S COMMENTS
Mayor Tilghman commented on the following:
- expressed sorrow on the passing of Councilman Webster's wife;
- Pinehurst Neighborhood Meeting on Tuesday, March 27, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at Pinehurst Elementary School Auditorium;
- meeting with Clairmont Neighborhood residents;
- HyettPalma (consultant for marketing analysis for Urban Salisbury, Inc.) will provide a briefing at the April 9, 2001 Council meeting;
- Council forwarded their budget priorities to Administration; and
- spoke with Democratic Club last week.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
The City Council thanked everyone for attending tonight's meeting and encouraged everyone to
become involved and ask questions on the water and sewer negotiations between the City and
County. Mr. Stacey suggested that the public ask for the meetings to be held in open, public
forums.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ms. Julia Hancock thanked Public Works Director John Jacobs for the no parking signs on the
corner of Somerset and Camden Avenue. Ms. Hancock commented that the proposed Rt. 13
median strip may not be appropriate at this time.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WRAP-UP
Ms. Siggers referred to previous water and sewer proposals that were submitted to the County,
but were met with no response. The current Council passed a Resolution on January 8, 2001
and forwarded it to the County on January 9, 2001. At the County Council meeting of
January 16, 2001, Ms. Siggers reinforced the City's desire to enter into dialogue with the County
and asked for an expedient response. The City and County met two weeks ago and began
preliminary discussions. A team from both entities will meet with the initial meetings being
closed to the public, but at some point the meetings would become public.
Ms. Siggers also expressed her sentiments on the loss of Councilman Webster's wife.
With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
City Clerk
Council President