20070122 Westminster Common Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes of City of Westminster Council Meeting

http://www.westgov.com/citygovernment/minutes/012207.asp

January 22, 2007

QUORUM:

A Meeting of The Mayor and Common Council was held in the John Street Quarters of the Westminster Fire Company on the evening of January 22, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. Mayor Ferguson; Council President Chiavacci; Council Members Albert, Wack, Utz, and Pecoraro; City Administrator Wolf; Acting Director of Planning and Public Works Glass; Police Chief Spaulding; Director of Recreation and Parks Schroers; City Attorney Walsh; Manager of Planning and Development Davis; and City Clerk Taylor were present.

MINUTES:

Mrs. Albert moved to approve the minutes of the Meeting of January 8, 2007. Mr. Utz seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Mayor Ferguson conducted a public hearing on proposed Ordinance No. 758, which would remove specialty shops as permitted uses and prohibit tattoo parlors in certain downtown zoning districts. Assistant City Planner Fisher noted that the uses will still be permitted in the “B” Business District and that the Planning Commission has given a favorable recommendation on the Ordinance. Ms. Virginia Hof and Ms. Polly Hewitt spoke against the Ordinance. Ms. Darcel Harris and Ms. Rebekah Orenstein spoke in favor of it. Mayor Ferguson closed the hearing at 7:30 P.M., leaving the record open until 4:30 P.M. on February 2, 2007.

Mayor Ferguson next conducted a public hearing on Local Map Amendment No. 06-1, which would rezone 14.99 acres at the Village of Meadow Creek from R-10,000 to “N-C” Neighborhood Commercial. Mr. Davis presented the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and staff that the Council grant the rezoning. He noted that, as amended, the Development Plan reduces the access points from three to two. Attorney Clark Shaffer advised that the amended plan increases the net square footage of the shops by 6,678 to, among other things, add a daycare center. Architect Jim Denzler described upgrades to the façade of the center. Neighbors Raymond Perkins, John Granlund, and Dan Hutzell expressed their continuing concerns about traffic. Mr. Shaffer explained that the plan adds another lane to Maryland Route No. 140 from at least Route No. 31 to the entrance to the Village of Meadow Creek. Traffic expert Wes Guckert assured them that there would be adequate turning radii for trucks. Mayor Ferguson closed the hearing and the record at 8:07 P.M.

Mr. Pecoraro moved that staff be directed to prepare an ordinance consistent with staff’s recommendations. Dr. Wack seconded. Council President Chiavacci and Mr. Utz thanked all participants for their involvement and their responsiveness to one another. Mr. Pecoraro requested staff to furnish updates prior to the making of future decisions. The Motion thereupon passed unanimously.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

Dr. Wack moved to approve the Consent Calendar, which consisted of the November and December 2006 Departmental Operating Reports. Mr. Pecoraro seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Council President Chiavacci announced that Mrs. Albert was recently honored for her work with Carroll Hospice.

Mr. Pecoraro reported that he attended the 75th anniversary celebration of the local chapter of the Kiwanis Club.

Dr. Wack advised that the Carroll Cable Regulatory Commission would meet Thursday, January 25, 2007 at

6:00 P.M.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Mr. Pecoraro moved to adopt Ordinance No. 757, which would make certain housekeeping amendments to the Elections Chapter of the City Code. Mr. Utz seconded and the Motion was unanimously approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mr. Pecoraro announced that the County would host a regional water summit on Saturday, February 3, 2007 at Winters Mill High School.

Mrs. Albert moved to hold a closed session following the regular meeting in order to confer with counsel and obtain legal advice pursuant to Section 10-508(a)(7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Dr. Wack seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Ms. Wolf reported on her recent attendance at training for a pandemic influenza outbreak. She added that the City would hire a consultant to help develop the City’s own training sessions.

Ms. Wolf advised that a survey of lighting on downtown streets was recently completed and that a number of improvements would be made.

Mr. Unger reported that the City would receive financial statements from the accountants in the near future. He added that training for the Eden System software would commence the following week.

In regard to the new Cranberry Water Treatment Plant, Mr. Glass advised that the matter would go before the State Board of Public Works in February and that negotiations continued with Conewago Enterprises.

Mr. Schroers reported that the City website for Recreation and Parks has been updated. He further reported that Fallfest contributed approximately $20,000.00 for the new hospice center on Stoner Avenue.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

City resident Raymond Perkins commented that the Planning and Zoning Commission should be required to hear citizen comments prior to voting on matters.

Greater Westminster Development Corporation President Lori Graham thanked Ms. Wolf for attending immediately to the concerns about lighting downtown. Ms. Graham also advised that the Corporation met with a consulting firm concerning advertisements for downtown Westminster.

Council President Chiavacci adjourned the meeting at 8:40 P.M.

Laurell E. Taylor,

City Clerk