20071126 Westminster Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes

20071126 Westminster Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes

City Council: Minutes of City Council Meetings Agenda for next City Council Meeting

Westminster Council Meeting Minutes, Westminster Council Meeting Agenda, Annual events holidays Fallfest, Water and Sewer Westminster

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER

MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL MEETING

November 26, 2007

QUORUM:

A meeting of The Mayor and Common Council was held in the John Street Quarters of the Westminster Fire Company at 25 John Street on the evening of November 26, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. Mayor Ferguson; Council President Chiavacci; Council Members Albert, Wack, Utz, and Pecoraro; City Administrator Wolf; Chief Spaulding; Acting Director of Planning and Public Works Glass; Director of Recreation and Parks Schroers; City Attorney Walsh; and City Clerk Taylor were present.

The Mayor and Common Council recognized with gratitude the members of the Greater Westminster Development Corporation for organizing the Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony on the preceding Saturday.

Mr. Schroers introduced the members of the Fallfest Board. He and Fallfest Board member Lori Graham presented checks from the proceeds of Fallfest activities in 2007, in the amount of $12,163.31 each, to four charitable organizations: Mission of Mercy, Kiwanis Clubs of Westminster, Carroll Hospice, and the Historical Society of Carroll County.

Edward J. Donahue III, President of the Municipal & Financial Services Group, gave a presentation on the impending water and sewer rate structure study that the firm will conduct. The presentation included an overview of the objectives and policy issues to be addressed by the study. Mr. Donahue noted that an initial meeting would occur imminently and that a draft report would follow twelve weeks later. The report would be finalized in time to include financial data in the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

Ms. Albert moved to approve the Consent Calendar, which consisted of the October 2007 Departmental Operating Reports. Mr. Glass observed that the reservoir level had risen to sixteen feet. Mr. Pecoraro remarked that the drought is far from over. Mr. Utz seconded Mrs. Albert’s Motion and it passed unanimously.

BIDS:

Mr. Glass summarized the low bid received to furnish a discrete analyzer for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, in the amount of $46,600 with an alternate bid in the amount of $1,000 per day for additional training, from Seal Analytical, Mequon Technology Center of Wisconsin. Upon Motion of Dr. Wack, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the bid was accepted.

REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR:

Mayor Ferguson and Mr. Utz complimented all involved in the holiday events of the preceding Saturday.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Dr. Wack reported that the draft Intergovernmental Agreement for the Cable Regulatory Commission would be subject to further revision.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Mr. Davis summarized Resolution No. R07-13, which would extend the time for final action on Sectional Map Amendment No. 07-1. Upon Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Dr. Wack and unanimously passed, the Resolution was approved.

Natural Resources and Cultural Planner Rogers summarized Ordinance No. 772, which would amend Sections 143-5 and 143-6 of the City Code to reduce the minimum rehabilitation expenditure for receiving Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit from $10,000 to $5,000. Mr. Pecoraro moved to suspend the Rules of Order and Procedure to introduce and adopt the Ordinance. Dr. Wack seconded and the Motion passed unanimously. Upon Motion of Dr. Wack, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the Ordinance was adopted.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mr. Walsh summarized the Deed of Easement and Deed of Relinquishment for City water service in connection with the Brightview of Westminster, LLC development project on the corner of Center Street and Gorsuch Road. Dr. Wack moved to accept the Deed. Mr. Pecoraro seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Mr. Glass reported that construction of the new water treatment plant remains on schedule. He further reported that staff expects to have a recommendation for a construction bid award for the emergency waterline from the Medford Quarry at the next meeting.

Chief Spaulding reported that all three suspects in a recent armed robbery at McDaniel College had been apprehended. He noted that the victim and suspects all knew each other.

Chief Spaulding announced that one of the lieutenants would be selected to attend the ten-week Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command in Sykesville in the near future.

Ms. Wolf reported that the new payroll software would be activated on January 1, 2008. The next module will be utility billing

The Mayor and Common Council expressed their gratitude to Mr. Reifsnyder and his staff for setting up the John Street Quarters for the meeting and for clearing it afterwards.

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

Laurell E. Taylor
City Clerk

20071126 Westminster Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes