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 govt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Westminster govt. Show all posts

Sunday, July 28, 2013

City of Westminster Maryland News and Notes newsletter for July 2013


City of Westminster Maryland News and Notes newsletter for July 2013


Dear Residents:

Thank you for the vote of confidence in re-electing me to the Office of Mayor of the City of Westminster. Council Member Chiavacci was also re-elected and Council Member Suzanne Albert will be returning to the Council. We will continue to serve the residents of the City, provide a solid financial foundation and revitalize downtown.

The following budget actions have been approved by the Common Council:

• A one-cent reduction in the General Fund Property Tax from .57 cents to .56 cents. This commitment to reduce the tax increase as capital improvement projects were completed was made by the Mayor and Council when the increase was adopted in 2009.

• No increase in water or sewer rates.

• Place the one-time highway user revenue in the Capital Project Reserve account to use for emergency or one-time only projects since there is no commitment for continuing this revenue source beyond this year.

• Included a 3% cost of living increase for our employees who have exhibited their commitment and dedication to our residents during the recession and who have not received an increase in five years.

• Added two emergency projects to the Priority One projects funded by the tax increase: replacement of the furnaces in the Police Department and partial replacement of the Skateboard Park. The other priority capital projects include vehicle and equipment replacement, street overlay and sidewalk replacement projects, repairs to City Hall and the Longwell Armory and replacement of the SAN network.

• The budget is available for your review on our web site www.westminstermd.gov.

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City of Westminster Maryland News and Notes newsletter for October 2012

City of Westminster Maryland News and Notes newsletter Volume 4 Issue 4a



Also see previously:

Volume 4 Issue 3a – July 2012



Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland, Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz,

[20120700 COW News and Notes Jy Vol4 Issue3a]*****

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Westminster Maryland Online: City of Westminster Maryland News and Notes newsle...

Westminster Maryland Online: City of Westminster Maryland News and Notes newsle...: City of Westminster Maryland News and Notes newsletter Volume 4 Issue 4a Labels: Westminster govt , Westminster newsletter Also se...

City of Westminster Maryland News and Notes newsletter for October 2012

Labels: Westminster govtWestminster newsletter


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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
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E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/
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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,...





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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,...



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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,...



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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, May 09, 2011

Challengers Frazier and Whitson prevail in Westminster election. Only Wack returned to his seat on the Common Council

The citizens of the city of Westminster sent a message in the results of Monday’s Westminster municipal elections which saw two incumbents not returned to office. By Kevin Dayhoff

Go to www.explorecarroll.com for more details 

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City of Westminster: Articles May 8 2011

City of Westminster:
Articles

Here you can read about the City of Westminster in previous articles that have been published.



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