CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
# 17 MEETING SEPTEMBER 8, 2003
PRESENT
Council President Lavonzella Siggers Council Vice President Joseph L. Scott
Councilman Michael Day Councilwoman Rachel Polk
Councilman C. T. Webster Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman
IN ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, CMC, Executive Officer John Pick, City Solicitor Paul Wilber, Public Works Director John Jacobs, Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, CPPB, C.P.M., and interested Citizens and Members of the Press.
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CONVENING
The City Council and Mayor 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.
COUNCILMAN’S COMMENTS
Highlights of Mr. Webster’s comments:
• recent incident only darkens the City’s image;
• image projected tends to drive good people from serving the taxpayers and residents of the City;
• proud to serve the City;
• considered the Council as part of his family, and like a family, there are disputes;
• sad day when friends and close associates do not seek reelection because of childish behavior and cruel and vicious attacks on them and their families;
• did not condone the conduct that occurred in the parking lot; and
• believed this Council had accomplished more than any other Council in the history of the City.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
On a motion by Mr. Webster and seconded by Mrs. Polk, the agenda as presented was unanimously approved.
CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
Council President Lavonzella Siggers presented Reverend J. Harvey Dixon with a Certificate of Appreciation for his 50 years of ministry to the community and 30 years as Chaplain for the Salisbury Fire Department.
APPROVAL OF AUGUST 25, 2003 MINUTES
On a motion by Mrs. Polk and seconded by Mr. Day, the August 25, 2003 minutes were approved on a 4-1 vote with Mr. Webster voting nay.
APPROVAL OF AUGUST 27, 2003 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
On a motion and a second by Mrs. Polk and Mr. Webster, respectively, the August 27, 2003 Special Meeting minutes were unanimously approved.
AWARD OF BIDS
The following item was presented for approval by Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner:
Project Order No. 5227 Change Order No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$13,190.00
Beaverdam Creek Dredging & Shorelines Stabilization (301-3220-539.30-20 BVRDAM)
Davis, Bowen & Friedel
The above item was unanimously approved upon a motion and a second by Mrs. Polk and Mr. Webster, respectively.
ORDINANCE NO. 1884 - 2ND READING - IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON THE PROCESS OF APPLICATIONS TO CONSTRUCT, ALTER, RECONSTRUCT, MOVE, DEMOLISH OR REPAIR, ANY STRUCTURE WITHIN AN HISTORIC DISTRICT
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1884 for second reading. Council President Siggers presented Ordinance No. 1884 imposing a moratorium on the process of applications to construct, alter, reconstruct, move, demolish or repair, any structure within an historic district, if such changes would affect the exterior appearance of the structure, through October 31, 2003, to allow for the review of the rules and regulations governing the operations of the City’s Historic District Commission
Mr. Day still did not believe this legislation was needed since the only conflict was with vinyl siding and to stop the process for two months was not warranted.
Ordinance No. 1884 for second reading passed on a 3-2 vote with Messrs. Day and Scott voting nay.
RESOLUTION NO. 1009 - PLACING FOUR-WAY STOP SIGNS IN THE BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD
Mr. Webster moved and Mrs. Polk seconded to approve Resolution No. 1009. Council President Lavonzella Siggers introduced Resolution No. 1009 to install stop signs on northbound and southbound North Division Street at London Avenue, eastbound and westbound on London Avenue at Boston Avenue, and eastbound and westbound on Brooklyn Avenue at Boston Avenue. Ms. Siggers pointed out that no time limit for completion of the project was contained in the Resolution.
One London Avenue resident asked the Council to consider the safety factor for the children in the area. Council members voiced their appreciation to the neighborhood residents for their persistence in this matter. Mr. Day, however, expressed his disappointment and concern that the process wasn’t followed (i.e., forming a neighborhood Process Action Team).
Mr. Scott moved to amend Resolution No. 1009 to include that the project was to be completed in a two-week time frame. Mr. Webster seconded and the amendment passed unanimously. Resolution No. 1009, as amended, passed on a 4-1 vote with Mr. Day voting nay.
RESOLUTION NO. 1010 - APPROVING LEASE RENEWAL FOR PARKING LOT #13
Mrs. Polk moved and Mr. Webster seconded to approve Resolution No. 1010. Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner addressed Resolution No. 1010 to renew a lease agreement between Cavalier Resources (Mr. Jerry Isear) and the City of Salisbury for Parking Lot #13. Parking Lot #13 is used primarily by the City for City and County employees (County pays $9.00 per month per employee). This is a five-year lease with an option to renew for three additional years. Mr. Isear requested a $50.00 per month increase for the next five years with an opportunity to renegotiate the fee at the three-year renewal option.
After discussion, including the concern that the tax increase language did not exclude the ten parking spaces retained by Mr. Isear, Mrs. Polk moved to amend Resolution No. 1010 by adding the following:
“Any increase in taxes that the City pays be pro-rated to reflect the ten spaces that Mr. Isear is holding for his own use.”
Mr. Webster seconded and the amendment passed unanimously. Resolution No. 1010, as amended, was unanimously approved.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
A few of the residents from Pemberton Manor Apartments voiced their concern with the security procedures imposed at the apartment complex.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Highlights of Mayor Tilghman’s comments:
• thanked State Highway for installation of new signage for the Route 50/Division Street crosswalks;
• thanked State Highway for replacing curbing and sidewalks along the overhead bridge;
• new sculptures at Church Street and Route 13 - cooperative effort between State Highway, Urban Salisbury, Salisbury University students who designed artwork and Parkside High School Career Technology Center who fabricated them in their welding class;
• Tuesday, September 16, 2003 - Neighborhood Roundtable Meeting scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room 305 of the City/County Government Building;
• meeting next Tuesday evening for the redesign of the west end of the zoo - playground proposal accepted from the Laytons;
• Friends of the Bandstand looking at colors to approve for the Bandstand – original color was yellow; and
• will be working on neighborhood newsletters within the next few months.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mr. Webster
• thanked the public for attending and Access 26 for doing a great job.
Mr. Scott
• appeared the City was moving forward from Mayor Tilghman’s comments; and
• thanked the public for attending.
Mr. Day
• Maryland Dove in the Port of Salisbury this weekend; and
• beginning work this week on the creation of the Jeanette P. Chipman Boundless Playground.
Mrs. Polk
• pleased and proud that neighbors are taking control of their neighborhoods; and
• College Avenue Neighborhood Association pleading their case for the 4-2 legislation before the Planning Commission this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center (concern with those areas contiguous with the City of Salisbury).
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WRAP-UP
• Maryland Municipal League Planning Convention Committee (Ms. Siggers serves on committee and subcommittee) met this past Saturday to identify workshops for next year’s convention in Ocean City – asked for any suggestions to be brought to her attention;
• looked forward to continuing to work for the good of the City; and
• concerned with issues brought forth by Pemberton Manor Apartments residents.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
City Clerk
Council President