Minutes of City Council Meetings | Agenda for next City Council Meeting
Minutes of City of
April 9, 2007
QUORUM:
A meeting of The Mayor and Common Council was held in City Hall,
Mayor Ferguson read a Proclamation making April 3, 2007 through June 3, 2007 the Maryland Chiefs’ Challenge Campaign.
MINUTES:
Mrs. Albert moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 26, 2007 and the special meeting of April 3, 2007. Mr. Utz seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
Mayor Ferguson advised that he would like to reappoint the current members of the Board of Zoning Appeals: Mr. Gary Beard, Mrs. Venzena Legge, and Mr. Ed Cramer, as regular members, and Mrs. Robin Kable as the alternate. Dr. Wack moved to confirm the appointments. Mr. Pecoraro seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Ferguson next advised that he would like to appoint Mr. Roland Backhaus to the Tree Commission. The Mayor summarized the qualifications of Mr. Backhaus, who is a Maryland Certified Horticulturist. Upon Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the appointment of Mr. Backhaus was confirmed.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:
After making a Motion to suspend the Rules of Order and Procedure in order to introduce and adopt an ordinance, Mr. Pecoraro summarized Ordinance No. 763, which would amend Section 160-14 of the Westminster City Code (“Allocation Policy”) to authorize the Mayor and Common Council to establish by resolution an allocation policy regarding the issuance of any new water service connections. The current Section only applies in times of drought. The amendment would further authorize the Mayor and Common Council, in adopting any such policy, to consider the needs of enumerated categories of use. Mr. Pecoraro and Dr. Wack pointed out that the Policy, which will be permanent, would be reviewed and revised regularly. Council President Chiavacci noted that the Policy is the first step in implementing the Consent Order between the Maryland Department of the Environment and the City that was executed on April 3, 2007. The user categories enumerated in the Ordinance are not in order by priority, with the exception of the first one – projects identified by the Carroll County Health Department as requiring water service for health and safety reasons. He commended Ms. Wolf, Mr. Glass, and staff for their work on the Order. Dr. Wack seconded Mr. Pecoraro’s Motion to suspend the Rules of Order and Procedure. Upon Motion of Dr. Wack, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the Ordinance was adopted.
Mr. Pecoraro summarized Resolution No. R07-2, the Water Allocation Policy authorized by Ordinance No. 763. The Resolution specifies which new water connections may be approved by the Director of Planning and Public Works for residential development, non-residential development, and emergency projects. It further sets forth the procedure for requesting allocations. The application for requesting allocations is attached as Exhibit A. Applicants dissatisfied with their results can appeal to the Mayor and Common Council. Council President Chiavacci noted that there is no fee to apply. Dr. Wack observed that the projects delayed by the moratorium would receive priority. Future projects will be processed with a set of rules based on the new method of calculating available water supply that was adopted by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Mr. Utz remarked that the moratorium occurred because of the change in the method of calculation by the Maryland Department of the Environment and not because of any change by the City. Mr. Pecoraro moved to adopt the Resolution. Dr. Wack seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Ms. Wolf advised that she would schedule meetings with developers whose projects had been delayed.
Mayor Ferguson read Resolution No. R07-3, which requires the City to identify and implement practices to conserve energy and to reduce the amount of global warming pollutants generated by City operations. He thanked the representatives of the Catoctin Chapter of the Sierra Club for their efforts in bringing the issue to the attention of the Mayor and Common Council. Mrs. Albert moved to adopt the Resolution. Mr. Utz seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Mr. Utz reported that the State Highway Administration is progressing in its study of Maryland Route 31 and its intersections near
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
Mr. Unger reported that training for the new financial software continues. Mr. Chiavacci announced that a work session would take place on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. in City Hall.
Chief Spaulding advised that the annual awards ceremony would be held Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 2:00 P.M. at
Ms. Wolf reported that work was progressing on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2008.
CITIZEN COMMENTS:
Greater Westminster Development Corporation President Lori Graham reported that the Blue Ribbon Panel for Economic Development held its first meeting. She also reported that tickets remain available for the Westminster Fallfest Gala on April 14, 2007.
On behalf of the Catoctin Chapter of the Sierra Club, City resident Dan Andrews thanked the Mayor and Common Council for adopting Resolution No. R07-3 and offered the Club’s assistance in its implementation.
City resident Henry Hefner requested that Mayor and Common Council to create a plan for cleaning local streams and junkyards.
In response to a comment from City resident Rick Blizzard, Mr. Glass reported that the City has installed intakes at the West Branch of the
City resident Sylviea Tejada announced that playwright Eve Ensler would attend an event at the Community College Amphitheater featuring one of her plays on April 20, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. Mayor Ferguson congratulated Ms. Tejada for arranging the event.
City resident Rebekah Orenstein expressed her wish that the economic development team of the Greater Westminster Development Corporation not recommend changing the residential zoning along
Council President Chiavacci adjourned the meeting at 8:00 P.M.
Laurell E. Taylor,
City Clerk
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