CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
#17 MEETING SEPTEMBER 13, 2004
PRESENT
Council Vice President Michael H. Day Councilwoman Lynn B. Cathcart
Councilman Gary A. Comegys Councilwoman Lavonzella Siggers
Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman
ABSENT
Council President Michael P. Dunn
IN ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, CMC, Executive Officer John Pick, ICMA-CM, City Solicitor Paul Wilber, Finance Director John Cawley, Deputy Public Works Director Chip Messick, Fire Chief David See, Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, CPPB, C.P.M., Police Chief Allan Webster, and interested Citizens and Members of the Press.
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CONVENING - ADOPTION OF AGENDA
The City Council and Mayor met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Council Vice President Day called the meeting to order. The Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited. The agenda as presented was unanimously approved upon a motion and a second by Mr. Comegys and Ms. Siggers, respectively.
APPROVAL OF AUGUST 23, 2004 MINUTES
Mr. Comegys moved and Mrs. Cathcart seconded to approve the August 23, 2004 minutes. Ms. Siggers moved to amend the minutes to reflect Council’s comments during the Comcast rate filing discussion (concern with Comcast changing the Basic Limited Service programming channels and the impact it had on people with lower incomes). Mrs. Cathcart seconded and the amendment passed unanimously. The August 23, 2004 minutes, as amended, were unanimously approved.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
City Solicitor Paul Wilber was given a cake in honor of his birthday.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Tilghman presented a proclamation proclaiming September 18, 2004 as “Tri-County District, Boy Scouts of America, Boy Scouting Emergency Preparedness Day” in the City of Salisbury. Brad Bellacicco, Vice-Chairman of the Tri-County District Committee for Boy Scouts, accepted the proclamation.
AWARD OF BIDS
Mrs. Cathcart moved and Mr. Comegys seconded to approve the Award of Bids. Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner presented the following items:
1. Declaration of Surplus - Rescue 16 (Old Unit) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -0-
Salisbury Fire Department
2. Dump Truck Tarp (45000-577030; unbudgeted capital) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,480.00
Meadows Hydraulics
3. Contract No. A-7-05, Change Order No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $27,783.00
Curb, Gutter & Sidewalk; Rail Construction at Riverwalk (10500-425303-29001)
Malone & Phillips Concrete Work
4. RFP #6-03, Change Order No. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,000.00
Renovation/Addition Project for Fire Station #1 (31155-513020-43001)
Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc.
5. Contract No. 10-040-NECR(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,245,319.78
Northeast Collector Road - Phase II (multiple accounts)
David A. Bramble, Inc.
The above items were unanimously approved. Ms. Turner provided an overview of the electricity bid which was signed this afternoon with PEPCO for $838,725. The price was based on Friday’s market, 3.2% less than the default rate of $866,098, and is a 12-month contract.
RESOLUTION NO. 1141 - CHARTER AMENDMENT AMENDING ARTICLE IV, EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO MAYOR PROVISIONS
Mr. Comegys moved and Mrs. Cathcart seconded to approve Resolution No. 1141. City Solicitor Paul Wilber explained that Resolution No. 1141 was passed by the Council in August. However, due to a communication snafu in his office, the Charter amendment was not sent to The Daily Times for advertising for four consecutive weeks within forty days. In order to comply with State law, the Resolution needed to be repassed and the advertisement sent to the newspaper for publication. The amendment would be effective on the fiftieth day (November 2, 2004).
Resolution No. 1141 passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1910- 2ND READING - TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE SALISBURY MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDING SECTION 17.216.050(E)
Mr. Comegys moved and Mrs. Cathcart seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1910 for second reading. Planner Gloria Smith presented Ordinance No. 1910 amending Section 17.216.050(E), Signs which may be erected in any district. The amendment adds language to the Code that premises in the R-5, R-8, and R-10 zoned districts shall only display rental signs ninety days prior to lease termination and shall be removed after the premise is rented.
Ms. Siggers believed it was discourteous to the tenant to display the signs for ninety days and opined that the legislation was drafted to appease the landlords. In her opinion, two weeks seemed more reasonable. Mr. Comegys noted that they were hearing complaints from the neighborhoods that rental signs were staying up all year, so this legislation was an effort to bring some closure to the situation.
After further discussion, including receiving comments from two residents that ninety days was too long for displaying the signs, Ordinance No. 1910 for second reading passed on a 3-1 vote. Ms. Siggers voted nay.
RESOLUTION NO. 1149 - ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF CRIME CONTROL & PREVENTION
Mr. Comegys moved and Mrs. Cathcart seconded to approve Resolution No. 1149. Police Chief Allan Webster introduced Resolution No. 1149 accepting $11,887 in state grant funds awarded through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention to fund an eighth year for the civilian position of Victim Assistance Officer.
Resolution No. 1149 was unanimously approved.
RESOLUTION NO. 1150 - ESTABLISHING RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ON COLLEGE AVENUE
Mrs. Cathcart moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve Resolution No. 1150. Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner addressed Resolution No. 1150 authorizing residential permit parking for two vehicles on W. College Avenue for the residence located at 311 W. College Avenue. Ms. Turner recommended a 24/7 parking permit.
Resolution No. 1150 passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 1151 - APPROVING BULK PICK UP FEE SCHEDULE
Mrs. Cathcart moved and Mr. Comegys seconded to approve Resolution No. 1151. Deputy Public Works Director Chip Messick presented Resolution No. 1151 authorizing the collection of a fee for the pick up of bulk trash items as follows:
Weekly vegetative items pick up - no charge
Weekly bulk pick up of non-vegetative items - $25.00 per pick up
Appliances will have a charge in addition to the $25.00 pick up charge consisting of:
Refrigerator $26.00 Washer $ 6.00
Oven $ 4.00 Freezer $26.00
Dryer $ 4.00 Air Conditioner $22.00
In addition, two free bulk pick ups will be scheduled per year – one in the spring and the other in the fall (no appliances).
Mr. Comegys mentioned his concern that services were being taken away from neighborhoods (i.e., street sweeping, playground maintenance) in order to pick up the bulk items. There was also a concern with the abuses of the bulk pick up program (people bringing appliances in from other areas and placing them on the curb). Mrs. Cathcart did not believe the City should be responsible for the debris left after a landlord has evicted a tenant. Mr. Day indicated that other cities were surveyed and this was a good compromise.
Mayor Tilghman noted that the City would be very active in making sure that violations were taken care of and would work with people living on fixed incomes so removal of the larger items wasn’t burdensome to them financially.
Mr. Stu Leer questioned how the City was going to actually tell who placed the material out on the curb so the wrong person wouldn’t get fined. He suggested rescheduling the bulk pick up day to coordinate with the college students leaving. Ms. Debbie Campbell related her concerns that citizens who follow all the rules, and only use this service a few times a year, would now be charged. She asked that the Council wait until the next Council meeting before taking action to give an opportunity for the public to offer input.
Ms. Siggers opined that the City needed to eradicate the problem, but she was not certain that what had been crafted would remedy the issues that exist. She moved to postpone Resolution No. 1151 for discussion at a work session and public input. Mrs. Cathcart seconded the motion, but the motion failed with only Ms. Siggers voting in favor.
Resolution No. 1151 passed on a 3-1 vote with Ms Siggers casting the nay vote.
RESOLUTION NO. 1152 - APPOINTMENT/REAPPOINTMENTS TO TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mr. Comegys moved and Mrs. Cathcart seconded to approve Resolution No. 1152. Mayor Tilghman recommended the appointment of Matthew Davis to the Traffic and Safety Advisory Committee for a term ending July 2005 and the reappointment of Eugenie Shields and Katherine Wood-Day for terms ending July 2007.
All voted in favor of the appointment/reappointments with the exception of Mr. Day who abstained.
MANUFACTURING EXEMPTION REQUEST - CLEARCOMM TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Mrs. Cathcart moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve a manufacturing exemption request for ClearComm Technologies, LLC. Finance Director John Cawley recommended that Clear Comm Technologies, LLC be granted an exemption from personal property tax for equipment purchased in 2003. Over the next five years, the company would benefit from the exemption by a savings of $1,500 in personal property tax.
The manufacturing exemption request was unanimously approved.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Bill Ahtes introduced Ms. Brynne Hayes, Executive Administrator for Urban Salisbury. Ms. Hayes provided a status report on Urban Salisbury’s activities.
Mr. James Trader reiterated his concern with the properties along the north prong of the river, noted the lack of an effective stormwater management system on the east prong near the Ramada, and opined that wastewater from the zoo area created a lot of problems.
Mr. Stu Leer commented on the lack of street sweeping in the area of Smith and Maryland and the problem with a group of people leaving trash.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Council Vice President Day announced that Steve Burgoon was leaving PAC14 and wished him the best in his new position. Mr. Burgoon had been broadcasting the City Council meetings for the past two years.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
City Clerk
Council Vice President