CITY OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND
#1 MEETING JANUARY 10, 2005
PRESENT
Council President Michael P. Dunn Council Vice President Michael H. Day
Councilwoman Lynn B. Cathcart Councilman Gary A. Comegys
Councilwoman Lavonzella Siggers Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman
IN ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, CMC, Executive Officer John Pick, ICMA-CM, City Solicitor Paul Wilber, Finance Director John Cawley, Director of Procurement & Parking Carol Turner, CPPB, C.P.M., Grants/Special Projects Director Loré Chambers, 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 President Dunn called the meeting to order. The Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited.
Mr. Comegys moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve the agenda as presented. Ms. Siggers moved to delete Ordinance No. 1924 (FY05 budget amendment appropriating funds for the proposed “Art in the Park” event) from the agenda. Mrs. Cathcart seconded and the amendment passed unanimously. The agenda, as amended, was unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 20, 2004 MINUTES
On a motion by Mrs. Cathcart and seconded by Ms. Siggers, the December 20, 2004 minutes were unanimously approved.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Tilghman and Council President Mike Dunn presented a Proclamation, along with a framed copy of the Daily Times article, to James M. Bennett High School senior Andrew Bratten, the 2004 Wendy’s High School Heisman male winner.
AWARD OF BIDS
Mr. Comegys moved and Mrs. Cathcart seconded to approve the Award of Bids. Director of Procurement and Parking Carol Turner presented the following items:
1. Snow blower cab (45000-577030; unbudgeted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,981.00
Turf Equipment
2. Contract No. 18-03-LS, Change Order No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,820.00
Robins Avenue Lift Station (86078-513026-33002)
Marcor Remediation, Inc.
The above items were unanimously approved.
PRESENTATION OF AUDIT
Mr. Herb Geary of Trice Geary & Myers presented and reviewed the City’s financial report as of June 30, 2004. The City received an unqualified opinion, the highest rating that can be given. As of June 30, 2004, the City’s total combined net assets were $46,786,512.
ORDINANCE NO. 1922 - 2ND READING - CREATING CHAPTER 3.20 OF THE SALISBURY MUNICIPAL CODE ADDRESSING A HOMEOWNER CONVERSION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM
Mr. Comegys moved and Mr. Day seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1922 for second reading. Mayor Tilghman provided an overview of Ordinance No. 1922 creating a new Chapter 3.20 of the Salisbury Municipal Code addressing a Homeowner Conversion Tax Abatement Program.
Although Ms. Siggers supported the conversion of rentals to home ownership, she was not in support of the language crafted in the legislation. Therefore, she would abstain from voting.
All voted in favor of Ordinance No. 1922 for second reading with the exception of Ms. Siggers’ abstention.
ORDINANCE NO. 1923 - 1ST READING - FY05 BUDGET AMENDMENT APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR EMS BILLING
Mr. Comegys moved and Mr. Day seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1923 for first reading. Finance Director John Cawley introduced Ordinance No. 1923 as a FY05 budget amendment, Emergency Medical Service Fund, to provide funds ($70,000) for payment of ambulance billing service to ClaimAid.
Ordinance No. 1923 for first reading passed unanimously.
ORDINANCE NO. 1925 - 1ST READING - CLOSING A PORTION OF SCENIC DRIVE
Mr. Comegys moved and Mrs. Cathcart seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1925 for first reading. Ordinance No. 1925, as briefed by Mr. Clay Hall, closes an unpaved portion (9,332.88 square foot parcel) located south of Naylor Mill Road and east of the paved portion of Scenic
Drive. The unpaved portion would be abandoned and the City’s interest conveyed unto Marshall
Family Real Estate Company, LLC with the following conditions:
1. Existing stormwater drainage patterns shall remain unchanged, unless altered in accordance with a plan approved by Public Works and implemented at the expense of the property owner; and
2. The City shall retain a utility easement over a large portion of the area being abandoned for the purpose of, but not limited to, water mains, sewer and stormwater pipes and appurtenant structures, which are either currently in place or are needed in the future.
Ordinance No. 1925 for first reading passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 1180 - GRANTING THE MARYLAND HISTORIC TRUST AN EASEMENT ON THE HISTORICAL FOOTPRINT OF THE CITY PARK
Mrs. Cathcart moved and Mr. Day seconded to approve Resolution No. 1180. Grants/Special Projects Director Loré Chambers addressed Resolution No. 1180 accepting $150,000 awarded through a bond bill from the General Assembly and granting a perpetual preservation easement to the Maryland Historical Trust. The funds will be utilized to restore the pedestrian bridge in the Salisbury City Park.
Resolution No. 1180 was unanimously approved.
RESOLUTION NO. 1181 - TRANSFERRING FUNDS FROM THE CITY CONTINGENCY FOR THE HOME CONVERSION PROGRAM AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING FUNDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Mr. Comegys moved and Mr. Day seconded to approve Resolution No. 1181. Mayor Tilghman requested that Resolution No. 1181 be amended by deleting the $2,500 for additional training in the Community Development Department and reducing the $30,000 allocation for the Home Conversion Grant Program to $22,000. Mr. Comegys moved to amend Resolution No. 1181 as recommended above. Mr. Day seconded and the amendment passed on a 4-0-1 vote (Ms. Siggers abstained).
Mayor Tilghman proposed that $22,000 be transferred from the City’s Contingency to seed the Home Conversion Grant Program, as well as appropriating $3,000 to market the program.
Resolution No. 1181, as amended, was approved on a 4-0-1 vote (Ms. Siggers abstained).
RESOLUTION NO. 1182 - APPOINTMENT TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FRIENDS OF POPLAR HILL MANSION, INC.
Mrs. Cathcart moved and Mr. Day seconded to approve Resolution No. 1182. Mayor Tilghman recommended the appointment of Dorothy Warner to serve on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion, Inc. for a term to expire December 31, 2007.
Resolution No. 1182 passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 1183 - REAPPOINTMENT TO BUILDING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS
Mrs. Cathcart moved and Mr. Day seconded to approve Resolution No. 1183. Mayor Tilghman submitted the reappointment of Bruce Williams to the Building Board of Adjustments and Appeals for a term expiring September 2009.
Resolution No. 1183 was unanimously approved.
RESOLUTION NO. 1184 - REAPPOINTMENT TO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Mrs. Cathcart moved and Mr. Comegys seconded to approve Resolution No. 1184. Mayor Tilghman recommended the reappointment of Corrine Les Callette to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term ending December 2008.
Resolution No. 1184 passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO. 1185 - APPOINTMENT TO TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mr. Comegys moved and Mrs. Cathcart seconded to approve Resolution No. 1185. Mayor Tilghman recommended the appointment of Bradley Gillis to serve on the Traffic and Safety Advisory Committee for a term ending July 2008.
Resolution No. 1185 passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Council President Dunn announced that a vacancy exists, for a City resident, on the PAC14 Board of Directors.
MANUFACTURING EXEMPTION REQUEST - K & L MICROWAVE
Mr. Comegys moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve a manufacturing exemption request for K & L Microwave. Finance Director John Cawley recommended that K & L Microwave be granted an exemption from personal property tax for equipment purchased in 2003 and 2004.
K & L Microwave would benefit from the exemptions by a total reduction in their personal property tax of $50,864 over the next five years.
The Council unanimously approved the manufacturing exemption request for K & L Microwave as recommended.
MANUFACTURING EXEMPTION REQUEST - HELVOET PHARMA
Mr. Comegys moved and Ms. Siggers seconded to approve a manufacturing exemption request for Helvoet Pharma. Finance Director John Cawley presented Helvoet Pharma’s request for an exemption from personal property tax on equipment purchased in 2003 in the amount of $307,550. Mr. Cawley recommended that the Council deny the request since the business is on the down swing. They are losing employees rather than adding employees. He opined that the few remaining employees may be transferred to its plant out of state.
The manufacturing exemption request for Helvoet Pharma was unanimously denied.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. James Trader commented that there was nothing in the Charter or Code relative to oil tank farms. He also referenced a building on 641 S. Salisbury Boulevard in which the number was not displayed as according to Ordinance No. 1665.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
City Clerk
Council President