Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Westminster Issues open transparent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Westminster Issues open transparent. Show all posts

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Westminster Maryland current elected officials

This afternoon, Sunday, June 19, 2011, I was looking for a picture and a bio for the current Westminster Maryland elected officials and the city does not have the newly elected officials up on its website...


One wonders when a picture, contact information and a brief bio for the successful "challengers Dennis Frazier and Paul Whitson (who) bested incumbents Suzanne Albert and Greg Pecoraro," will appear on the city website?  

Readers and voters have said that they would like to see more information, in a timely manner, disseminated to city residents.   The previous administration, 2005 - 2009 and the last two years of this administration, 2009 - 2011, has treated the press and the public like mushrooms.  It could have not been more opaque if it put up blackout curtains.  More information in a timely manner on the website would be a great start...   I'm just saying...


 Elected Officials

The Mayor and City Council regularly meet on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 PM in the Council chamber on the first floor of City Hall at 1838 Emerald Hill Lane. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Citizens' comments are solicited at each meeting. Meeting agendas may be obtained on the Friday preceding each scheduled meeting from the City Clerk at 410-848-9000. The City Clerk also can provide additional information. Meeting minutes are also available here.

Mayor Kevin R. Utz is a lifelong resident of Westminster, having grown up on Bond Street just outside of the City Limits, where his parents have lived for 55 years. Mayor Utz resides in the Avondale Run community, where he raised his three children, Brad, Jenni and Julie. He is very active in business in Westminster and is a Captain and former Chief of the Westminster Fire Engine as well as an EMS responder. He served on the City Council from 2005-2009, having retired from the Maryland State Police after 28 years of service.

Mayor Utz is an accomplished community leader with excellent consensus building skills, leading disparate groups in accomplishing common goals. The Mayor will dedicate his term to working tirelessly to improve the infrastructure, water resources, and public safety. The Mayor plans on having an open-door policy for dialogue with his constituents.
Mayor Kevin Utz


City Council President Damian L. Halstad served on the Common Council from 1993 to 2005 and returned to a fourth term in 2009. He lives with his wife, Leigh, and their three sons on Willis Street. Mr. Halstad is a partner in the Westminster law firm of Hoffman, Comfort, Offutt & Scott, LLP, where he has practiced for nineteen years. He holds degrees from Loyola College (B.A.), Johns Hopkins University (M.A.), and the University of Maryland School of Law (J.D.). He has served on a number of Boards and Commissions, and was a founding member of the Greater Westminster Development Corporation. His term expires in May, 2013.Damian Halstad


Council Member Suzanne P. Albert Albert joined the Common Council in 1995 and holds the position of President Pro Tempore of the Council. Mrs. Albert is a healthcare professional with an extensive background in nursing and related fields, having graduated from Women's Hospital Nursing School (now GBMC), University of Baltimore and holds a masters degree from Western Maryland College. Mrs. Albert is active in the community as Past Board President of Carroll County Rape Crisis Intervention Services, St. John's Roman Catholic Church Parish Council, Greater Westminster Kiwanis Club and Vice Chair of Westminster Women’s Club. Retired after 32 years of State employment, Mrs. Albert remains active in several service organizations in addition to fulfilling her duties as Council Member. Her term expires in May, 2011.Suzanne Albert


Council Member Tony Chiavacci lives on Willis Street in Westminster with his wife Kelly and their five children. He owns a local business, Kojak Graphic Communications, in downtown Westminster. He is a graduate of Westminster High School and of Frostburg State with a BA in Business Administration. Upon graduation from college he was commissioned into the US Army Military Police Corp. and was honorably discharged after the first Gulf War. He is currently the Chairman of the City's Public Safety Commission, Vice Chair of the City's Public works committee, and serves on the City's Recreation and Parks Board. He is additionally on the board of the Carroll County Public Schools Education Foundation, President of the Westminster Area Recreation Council, and coaches a number of athletic teams including lacrosse, football and basketball. His term expires in 2013.Tony Chiavacci


Council Member L. Gregory Pecoraro served on the Common Council from 1994 to 2003 and was re-elected to the Council in 2007, after his appointment in 2005 to fill the vacancy created by the election of Thomas Ferguson as Mayor. He has specialized in the field of transportation, working both in the public and private sectors. As a member of the Council, he brings with him an extensive background in public service, having served as an Assistant Secretary in the Maryland Department of Transportation; Chief of Staff to the Baltimore County Executive, and as an assistant to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and Maryland State Treasurer Lucille Maurer. Currently employed as an executive with a national non-profit association, Greg lives in the Cliveden Reach neighborhood with his wife and daughter. His term expires in May, 2011.Gregory Pecoraro


Council Member Dr. Robert WackCouncil Member Dr. Robert Wack was appointed to a vacant seat on the Council in January 2003, and was elected to a four year term in May 2003. He was reelected to a second term in May 2008. He currently serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee, represents Westminster on the Cable Regulatory Commission, and co-chairs the Growth and Annexation Committee. He also chaired the Mayor's Technology Task force in 2006. Dr. Wack is the Director of Pediatric Services at Frederick Memorial Hospital, and like his colleagues on the Council, is extremely active in the community. He lives with his wife and 3 children on West Green St. His term expires in May, 2011.Robert Wack

May 10, 2011
Explore Carroll: Challengers Frazier and Whitson prevail in Westminster election. Citizens of the City of Westminster sent a message in Monday's Westminster municipal elections, which saw two incumbents fall short in ...









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May 09, 2011
http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5418/challengers-frazier-whitson-prevail-westminster-election/. *****. Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art:...

May 10, 2011
Explore Carroll: Challengers Frazier and Whitson prevail in Westminster election. Citizens of the City of Westminster sent a message in Monday's Westminster municipal elections, which saw two incumbents fall short in ...

Mar 18, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor campaign lit. Campaign literature from Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor acquired sometime around the middle of March 2009. More on the election: Westminster Elections 20090511 on ...

Apr 09, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor campaign literature received April 8 2009. WHAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW The week BEFORE the public hearing on water and sewer rate structures, a representative from Tylex ...

Apr 09, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor literature - received April 8, 2009. DID YOU HEAR? Dennis Frazier is running for Mayor of Westminster! I believe I should try to make Westminster the best place it can be to live,...





Labels:

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Westminster councilman Dennis Frazier city update


This past meeting was packed-the voting date and time for city elections was changed-second Tuesday in May from 7-8 this now puts us on the same date as 4 other municipalities in the county.

We approved a new commutation system VOIP that will work faster and better than the current one and cost thousands less.

We are moving forward with changing the city's health care provider, one that offers the same coverage as the current but at a little more than $40,000 less per year than who we have now.

We extended a Bio-solids contract for on year than will save the city over $40.00 a ton on disposing of the solids for the next year, we will have to enter into a new contract next year but we are hoping that pricing will be more favorable at that time.

We are going to talk about taking the parking meters off of main street and replacing with signs that say -parking limited to one hour between the hours of 8am and 5 pm Monday -Friday- we are also going to talk about giving each downtown business owner on free permit for parking.

My thinking is if you go to any other shopping center in Westminster you do not have to pay to park -and the owners don't have to pay.   What do you think?




May 09, 2011
http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5418/challengers-frazier-whitson-prevail-westminster-election/. *****. Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art:...

May 10, 2011
Explore Carroll: Challengers Frazier and Whitson prevail in Westminster election. Citizens of the City of Westminster sent a message in Monday's Westminster municipal elections, which saw two incumbents fall short in ...

Mar 18, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor campaign lit. Campaign literature from Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor acquired sometime around the middle of March 2009. More on the election: Westminster Elections 20090511 on ...

Apr 09, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor campaign literature received April 8 2009. WHAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW The week BEFORE the public hearing on water and sewer rate structures, a representative from Tylex ...

Apr 09, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor literature - received April 8, 2009. DID YOU HEAR? Dennis Frazier is running for Mayor of Westminster! I believe I should try to make Westminster the best place it can be to live,...



*****

Friday, May 27, 2011

Dennis Frazier commentary on the May 23, 2011 Westminster Common Council Meeting

Dennis Frazier commentary on the May 23, 2011 Westminster Common Council Meeting - May 24, 2011

The council passed some housekeeping measures - the property maintenance bill now has the height of grass as 6" the height that the city will send a notice to homeowners about cutting –the height was left off the original document.

Changing the limit to $10,000 as the amount the city can buy necessary items as needed by departments without requiring a formal written and competively bid contract-it was $7,500.

I introduced two new items:

1-change the time and date of the city elections-change the date to the 2nd Tuesday in May and the time to 7am-8pm--right now three other municipalities in Carroll have their elections on that Tuesday and if we moved ours to that date then we would be in line with most of the other towns- the time change would give voters an extra hour to vote

2-create a new tax break structure for smaller business-who have12 new employees 2500 sf of new or expanded space and pay the average county wage for a tax break from the city of 25% the first two years 20% years 3-4 and 15% years 5-6-with the same penalties as the Job Creation tax credit that we talked about last meeting--both items are being drafted for a future meeting ---tell me what you think …

Thanks for your time Dennis Frazier



May 09, 2011
http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5418/challengers-frazier-whitson-prevail-westminster-election/. *****. Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art:...

May 10, 2011
Explore Carroll: Challengers Frazier and Whitson prevail in Westminster election. Citizens of the City of Westminster sent a message in Monday's Westminster municipal elections, which saw two incumbents fall short in ...

Mar 18, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor campaign lit. Campaign literature from Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor acquired sometime around the middle of March 2009. More on the election: Westminster Elections 20090511 on ...

Apr 09, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor campaign literature received April 8 2009. WHAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW The week BEFORE the public hearing on water and sewer rate structures, a representative from Tylex ...

Apr 09, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor literature - received April 8, 2009. DID YOU HEAR? Dennis Frazier is running for Mayor of Westminster! I believe I should try to make Westminster the best place it can be to live,...



*****

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Dennis Frazier commentary on Westminster Common Council meetings

Dennis Frazier commentary on Westminster Common Council meetings

May 18, 2011

This is the first e-mail that I am sending to try and keep you informed on what it happening at city hall. I will try to send one after each council meeting. Please let me know what you think about what is going on.

This bill was introduced-Job Creation Tax Credit-This will allow the city to give a tax break to business in the city if they meet the following criteria:

5,000 square feet of new or expanded space,

25 new full time employees, and

Paid 125% of weekly county average wage.

If a new or existing company meets these criteria then the city will give them -52% off taxes for the first 2 years, 39% off years 3 and 4, 26% off years 5 and 6.

If the company fails to meet the criteria after they have received the tax break the company will pay back the last 3 years worth of tax money.

I think this is a good idea to try and get new business to come to the city.

What do you think?

Thanks for your time Dennis Frazier

May 09, 2011
http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5418/challengers-frazier-whitson-prevail-westminster-election/. *****. Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art:...

May 10, 2011
Explore Carroll: Challengers Frazier and Whitson prevail in Westminster election. Citizens of the City of Westminster sent a message in Monday's Westminster municipal elections, which saw two incumbents fall short in ...

Mar 18, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor campaign lit. Campaign literature from Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor acquired sometime around the middle of March 2009. More on the election: Westminster Elections 20090511 on ...

Apr 09, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor campaign literature received April 8 2009. WHAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW The week BEFORE the public hearing on water and sewer rate structures, a representative from Tylex ...

Apr 09, 2009
Dennis Frazier for Westminster mayor literature - received April 8, 2009. DID YOU HEAR? Dennis Frazier is running for Mayor of Westminster! I believe I should try to make Westminster the best place it can be to live,...


Monday, November 22, 2010

Westminster Common Council meeting agenda for November 22, 2010

AGENDA for the CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND Mayor and Common Council Meeting of November 22, 2010






At this point, e-mail requests and phone calls for the following information pertaining to this evening’s meeting have gone unanswered:

I hope you can help me with a couple of housekeeping and file maintenance items for a possible newspaper article for Explore Carroll or my website…

Is the “amended version one of Ordinance No. 818 Sectional Zoning Map Amendment No. SMA 10-1 and Accompanying Written Decision – “Belle Grove Square Neighborhood and Willis Street Neighborhood” available on the city’s website?  If not, may I have a copy of it?

May I have a copy of the transcript of the November 8, 2010 public hearing on SMA 10-1?

Are the minutes from the October 14, 2010 Planning and Zoning meeting posted on the website?  I do not seem to be able to find any of the PZ minutes for 2010 posted?  (http://www.westgov.com/citygov/citygov_pandz_minutes.html)  May I have a copy of the October 14, 2010 PZ meeting minutes?

May I have a copy of the letter notifying the Willis Street residents about the November 8, 2010 public hearing for the proposed zoning changes?

May I have a copy of the letter notifying the Willis Street residents of the Monday, November 15, 2010 community meeting?

Thanks a lot for your time.

For more information, please see:









Also see:



The Westminster city staff report and recommendation for the proposed Zoning Text Amendment and Sectional Map Amendment…

Ordinance 816 – Zoning Text Amend 10-3 to amend Westminster City Code Chap 164 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/41609339/Ordinance-816-%E2%80%93-Zoning-Text-Amend-10-3-to-amend-Westminster-City-Code-Chap-164) would amend the text of Chapter 164 of the Westminster City Code by adding a new article VIVD to create a “Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone.”

The proposed 164-45.31 proscribes, “An application for zonal classification in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone may be made only by a Sectional Map Amendment.”

A Sectional Map Amendment for the inclusion of the Belle Grove Square and Willis Street neighborhoods was filed simultaneously by the mayor and council on September 30, 2010.  (See [20100930 SMA10-1-Belle Grove Square and Willis Street Neighborhood.] City of Westminster Sectional Zoning Map Amendment – SMA#10-1)

Section 164-45.25 introduces, “The Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone (NP Zone) is intended to provide for the preservation of the historic character and physical setting of the city’s traditional neighborhoods by promoting residential uses and directing more intense uses to other suitable locations.

“The Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone is a mapped zone which is superimposed over properties included in the R-7,500 residential zone and R-10,000 residential in certain traditional residential neighborhoods.  Once properties are included in the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone, any development or use of such properties are subject to its provisions.”

A public hearing notice document was placed on the city’s website, dated September 30, 2010 that indicated that the Westminster mayor and common council would hold a public hearing on November 8 on Zoning Text Amendment No. ZTA 10-3 which was subsequently introduced at the October 11 common council meeting as Ordinance 816.  The Ordinance is sponsored by councilmembers Greg Pecoraro and Dr. Robert Wack.

20100930 Ord 816 ZTA10-3-NhborhoodPresOverlayZone

See also:

















zoning, historic, preservation, Westminster, Maryland, Carroll County, planning and zoning commission, Willis Street, hearing, Ordinance, Chapter 164

Chap 164 Art 6 28 R10000 pdf sdosm  Westminster City Code Chap 164 ARTICLE VI R-10,000 Residential Zone (§ 164-28 — § 164-33)  http://www.scribd.com/doc/41615744/j-Chap-164-Art-6-28-R10000  This document delineates how Chap 164 with respect to how the zoning code for R-10,000 of the Westminster City Code reads…






(l) A public hearing notice was placed on the city’s website, on or about October 12, that indicated that the Westminster mayor and council will receive the public’s input on Zoning Text Amendment No. ZTA 10-3 and Sectional Zoning Map Amendment No. SMA 10-1 on November 8, 2010.



Also related:

“Possible zoning changes to shape downtown area”  Tuesday, October 26, 2010  By Brett Lake, Advocate Staff Writer
The effort to upgrade Westminster’s downtown area continues to push forward and changes may soon be coming downtown after a series of zoning amendments were approved by the Westminster Planning Commission…  http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/advocate_of_westminster/news/article_108bc134-e10b-11df-ad2e-001cc4c002e0.html 

WESTMINSTER: Arts, preservation zoning process moving forward”  Tuesday, November 9, 2010 By Peter Panepinto, Times Staff Writer
The Westminster Common Council approved two text amendments Monday night for the Arts and Culture Overlay Zone and the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone.
More than 30 Westminster-area residents attended Monday night's meeting at city hall to oppose or support the proposed text amendments. The city's next step is to adopt zoning map amendments for each text amendment that was passed. The zoning map amendments were introduced Monday night… http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/article_8c0edeba-ebc2-11df-b4be-001cc4c002e0.html

“Zoning places assisted-living facility in limbo” Saturday, November 13, 2010  By Peter Panepinto, Times Staff Writer http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/article_41af73fc-eed8-11df-9f06-001cc4c002e0.html
Pat Martin intended to open an assisted-living home at 170 Willis St. in 2012, but his plan has been halted because of a zoning map amendment that would prevent any businesses from opening in the Westminster neighborhood.
"This would totally kill my plans for opening the facility," said Martin, a local remodeling contractor.
Martin purchased the old Weller property in 2000 with plans to restore it. He got the idea to open an assisted-living home from a friend who works in the health field in 2005.
But the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone, introduced in October, is designed to preserve the historical and residential aspects of the Willis Street and Bell Grove Square neighborhoods. The Westminster Common Council approved an amendment at the last council meeting that moved the map amendment forward. More than 30 residents attended the meeting, and most said they weren't given notice on the overlay zone or how it would impact the neighborhood…  http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/article_41af73fc-eed8-11df-9f06-001cc4c002e0.html  If you go: What: Informational meeting on Neighborhood Preservation Overlay Zone When: 7 p.m. Monday Where: Westminster City Hall, 1838 Emerald Hill Lane, Westminster  http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/article_41af73fc-eed8-11df-9f06-001cc4c002e0.html

Further context:

Carroll County Times: Westminster MD’s Disregard for open government: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/07/carroll-county-times-westminster-mds.html

20080611 Carroll County Times editorial: No agenda is sign of poor government: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2008/06/20080611-carroll-county-times-editorial.html




20101122 sdosm MCC Agenda.

zoning, historic, preservation, Westminster, Maryland, Carroll County, planning and zoning commission, Willis Street, hearing, Ordinance, Chapter 164



Westminster Council Mtgs, Westminster Council Mtg Agenda, Westminster PZ Nborhood Pres Overlay Zone, Westminster Issues open transparent, People Martin Pat



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Monday, September 08, 2008

Thoughts on Westminster posting an agenda in a timely manner

Thoughts on Westminster posting an agenda in a timely manner

The existentialism of the simple task of Westminster city officials posting an agenda for its council meetings in a timely manner

September 8, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff


After an e-mail to a city official earlier in the day; for which I never did get a response, the city of Westminster has finally posted an agenda on the city’s web site.

Heck, I’m just not sure what their rush was – the agenda was posted at approximately 3:22 pm. The meeting is 3 ½ hours away…

Since 2005 the city of Westminster has added two new positions – a city manager and a director of administration at an annual cost to the taxpayer of over $200,000 and yet the city can’t manage to get an
council meeting agenda posted timely – or adopt a budget or have an annual audit performed on a timely basis.

The city spent anywhere from $20,000 to over $40,000, depending on whose version of the story suits your fancy,
to move some offices to a rented building from City Hall and other offices from the rented building back over to City Hall; in order to provide better services. It was, in reality, rearranging the deck chairs on The Titanic. And yet the city all-too frequently can’t get an agenda posted on a timely basis.

The city increased taxes, increased the size of government, has borrowed money like there is no tomorrow and is actively discussing cutting back on city services – in order to serve us better. And yet the city seems to have a great deal of difficulty in
posting an agenda on a timely basis on a web site that is so woefully inadequate and opaque, it often seems like the city resents even having a web site…

Web sites can be difficult as I am all too aware; however in theory, a web site is no longer an afterthought or a bother, it is a critical information dissemination resource in today’s governance. Then again there are many folks who find current Westminster government so opaque, unapproachable, and inaccessible, that the web site is probably emblematic of a government that all too often seems too annoyed by citizen contact to be bothered with disseminating information.

After-all, our elected officials are some of the smartest folks in the world – and they certainly know what is best for us; so having meaningful contact with the public is probably unnecessary now isn’t it?

I’m glad that Westminster citizens work for such an august group of elitists. It gives us a purpose in our backward shabby meager existence.

Related:

20071130 City municipal offices relocate by Ryan Marshall

20080611 No agenda is sign of poor government

20080720 Carroll County Times Westminster shutting out the public

20080908 Thoughts on Westminster posting an agenda in a timely manner

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Carroll County Times Editorial for Sunday, July 20, 2008: Westminster shutting out the public

Carroll County Times Editorial for Sunday, July 20, 2008: Westminster shutting out the public

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/07/22/news/opinion/editorial/editorial572.txt

Last week's aborted attempt by Westminster officials to circumvent the bidding process for a multi-million dollar roadwork contract was just the latest in a string of questionable actions that should have residents concerned about how their government is being run and whether the city is fiscally sound.

In May, the city advertised as required by law that it would not be lowering the tax rate to maintain a constant yield with rising revenue. As tax and assessment revenues increase, the state says that governments should lower the tax rate to maintain a constant yield. If they don't, they have to advertise the defacto tax increase.

Most municipalities don't decrease taxes, so Westminster not doing so wasn't unusual. What was unusual, however, was that city officials could provide no expense numbers prior to the May constant yield hearing, and they could not explain how they knew they would need additional tax revenue if they didn't have the expense numbers.

To further muddy the picture, the city then produced a "narrative" budget, touting it as easier to follow and good for residents. The narrative, however, did not include a breakdown of revenues and expenses.

Not surprisingly, with no real numbers and scant facts on expenses and revenues available, few people attended the constant yield hearing.

Weeks later, after not holding a public hearing on the budget, and with little discussion of the budget in open sessions, the council approved the current fiscal year's budget.

Officials never could explain why they didn't want to hold a public hearing.

Given the lack of open discussion, as well as the unavailability of real budget numbers, residents may be concerned that either their council voted on something they had no real knowledge of, or the council talked secretly - and illegally - outside public meetings to hash out the details and hid that from residents.

Last week, the city announced it would be firing several employees and consolidating some positions in an effort to save money. The week before, the city had to hold an emergency meeting in order to give the mayor the authority to sign for a $3.5 million loan for road projects. Originally city officials planned to circumvent the bidding process and give the contract to C.J. Miller. But last week they thought better of ignoring the city charter on putting contracts out to bid and removed the rubber stamp approval from the constent agenda.

Juggling the intricacies of a municipal government can be challenging for anyone, and there are sure to be missteps along the way. But what has emerged in Westminster since the beginning of this year's budget process is more than a few simple missteps and more closely resembles a concerted effort to hide the city's finances from public view.

The mayor and council need to return to the basic concept of doing public business at public meetings. They need to stop treating the public as intruders, and they need make a full accounting of the city's finances and why they have thrown up so many barriers to public participation in the budget process this year.


20080720 Carroll County Times Westminster shutting out the public


,