CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
#18 MEETING SEPTEMBER 24, 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
Assistant City Clerk Mary Church, Executive Officer John Pick, City Solicitor Paul Wilber, Finance Director John Cawley, Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, C.P.M., CPPB, 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. There was a moment of silence for the victims, families and workers of the World Trade Center and Pentagon catastrophes on September 11, 2001. The Lord's Prayer was repeated and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Reverend Harvey Dixon gave a background of what he and others throughout the Salisbury/Washington area have been doing after the September 11, 2001 attack. He offered a prayer for healing and togetherness.
Mr. Rai Sharma, Director of Wicomico County Public Works, introduced Mr. Hari Heda from the Hindu Temple of the Eastern Shore. Mr. Heda gave an account of what the Hindu Temple members have been doing since the moment of the attack. Mr. Sharma read a Resolution from the Hindu Temple of the Eastern Shore pledging support for the relief efforts for victims, families, and workers of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The resolution is attached as a permanent part of the minutes.
Mr. Webster moved and Mr. Scott seconded to amend the agenda to include as an emergency item the East Side Men's Club property tax credit request. The vote to add the East Side Men's Club as an emergency item on the agenda was approved on a 4-1 vote. (Mrs. Polk voted nay)
Mr. Scott moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve the agenda as amended placing the East Side Men's Club request behind the Manufacturing Exemption Request for Americhem, Inc. The agenda, as amended, was approved by unanimous vote.
APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 MINUTES
Upon a motion by Mr. Webster and a second by Mr. Scott, the minutes of September 10, 2001 were unanimously approved.
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION - MARYLAND DOVE
Mayor Tilghman showed the City's appreciation to the Historical Society Committee members and other individuals by giving Certificates of Appreciation for bringing the Maryland Dove to Salisbury.
ORDINANCE NO. 1822 - 2ND READING - AMENDING SECTION 5.22.270, FRANCHISE FEE, OF THE SALISBURY MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCREASE THE COMCAST CABLE FRANCHISE FEE FROM 4% TO 5%
Mrs. Polk moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1822 for second reading. Mayor Tilghman reintroduced Ordinance No. 1822, increasing from 4% to 5% the fee paid on gross revenues by cable television operators.
Mr. Webster voiced concern that, in the last two years, the Mayor has tried to increase the franchise fee from 4% to 5% and each time it failed. He also mentioned that since Ordinance No. 1823 failed, giving the 1% to Access 26, then Ordinance No. 1822 should not pass because there would be no guarantee the monies would actually go to Access 26.
Mrs. Polk believed the need to fund Access 26 was still there.
Mr. Scott advised that even if Ordinance No. 1822 passed, the monies would still not be going to Access 26. A budget amendment would have to come from the Mayor for any monies to be allocated to Access 26.
After more discussion, Ordinance No. 1822 for second reading failed on a 2-3 vote. (Ms. Siggers and Mrs. Polk voted aye)
RESOLUTION NO. 795 - RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE BOULEVARD THEATRE
Mr. Scott moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 795. Mayor Tilghman introduced Resolution No. 795, a resolution supporting the Salisbury-Wicomico Arts Council's project to renovate the Boulevard Theatre.
Resolution No. 795 passed unanimously.
MANUFACTURING EXEMPTION REQUEST - AMERICHEM INC.
Mr. Webster moved and Mr. Scott seconded to bring Americhem, Inc's manufacturing exemption request on the floor for discussion. Finance Director John Cawley briefed Council on Americhem, Inc.'s request for an exemption from Personal Property Tax for their equipment purchased in 1998 and 1999.
The Manufacturing Exemption Request for Americhem, Inc. was passed unanimously.
EAST SIDE MEN'S CLUB - PROPERTY TAX CREDIT REQUEST
Mr. Webster moved and Mr. Scott seconded to bring the East Side Men's Club request for property tax credit on the floor for discussion. Mayor Tilghman briefed Council on the East Side Men's Club property tax credit request.
Mr. Andrew Walters apologized for being late, but their President resigned and he, as Secretary, took over the job of being President. The club has changed its name to East Side Club because they do have women working within the club now. Mr. Walters explained that they are a nonprofit organization that has to go before the Council each year to ask for their exemption.
The East Side Men's Club property tax credit request was approved with Messrs. Scott, Stacey and Webster voting aye . Ms. Siggers abstained and Mrs. Polk voted nay.
AWARD OF BIDS
Mr. Scott moved to approve the Award of Bids individually . Mr. Webster seconded.
The following items were presented for approval by Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner:
- Declare as Surplus - 1984 Davey Compresso, Permavane Air Compressor destroyed by fire.
- Declare a Surplus - 1999 Crown Victoria declared a total loss after an accident.
Both items were passed by unanimous vote.
MAYOR'S COMMENTS
- walk through the City park scheduled for 3:00 p.m., Sunday, September 30, 2001;
- the new PACE intern, Allison Davis, will be working in the Mayor's Office assisting with the neighborhood initiatives;
- the Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable will be scheduling the next meeting in the Doverdale area;
- Emergency Operations Procedure will be expanded with a first meeting with Council on October 4, 2001;
- walk with Ms. Eshbach at Salisbury University went well;
- Compact meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 4:15 p.m., September 26, 2001.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council members thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Mr. Webster welcomed City Solicitor Paul Wilber back to the Council meetings.
Ms. Siggers noted that the Council was not sensitive to Access 26 and to the comments of the individuals who were in favor of Access 26. She thought it was pathetic that the Charter was not adhered to as it should be.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. James Trader mentioned that some trees in the park have needed pruning for years and that there was sediment buildup and vegetation in the stream. He invited everyone to go to the park after a heavy rain to see all the trash that goes into the stream.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WRAP-UP
Mr. Stacey thanked everyone for coming to the meeting.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
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Assistant City Clerk
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Council President