The Wicomico County Council
met in a Legislative Session, May 15, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers,
In attendance: Doris Schonbrunner,
Council Administrator; Edgar A. Baker, Jr.,
On
motion of Mrs. Prettyman and second by Mr. MacLeod the minutes of May 1, 2007
were unanimously approved.
Proclamations:
Mr. Joe Holloway presented a
joint proclamation with
Mr. William McCain presented
a joint proclamation with
Mr. John Cannon presented a
joint proclamation with
Mr. David A. MacLeod
presented a joint proclamation with
Mrs. Sheree Sample-Hughes
presented a joint proclamation with
Resolution 77-2007 – A resolution to make an appropriation of funds to
the Department of Emergency Services from unanticipated revenues received from
the auction sale of surplus property in the amount of Two Hundred Sixty-Nine
Dollars and Seventy Cents ($269.70). On
motion of Mr. McCain and second by Mrs. Prettyman Resolution 77-2007 was
unanimously approved.
Resolution 78-2007 – A resolution to make an appropriation of funds to
Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism from unanticipated revenues
received from the auction sale of surplus property in the amount of One
Thousand Thirty-Two Dollars and Seventy-One Cents ($1.032.71). On motion Mr. MacLeod
and second by Mrs. Bartkovich Resolution 78-2007 was unanimously approved.
Resolution 79-2007 – A resolution to make an appropriation of funds to
Roads Division from unanticipated revenues received from the auction sale of
surplus property in the amount of Five Thousand Eight Hundred Seventy-Two
Dollars and Ninety Cents ($5,872.90). On motion of Mr. McCain and second by Mr.
MacLeod Resolution 79-2007 was unanimously approved. It was noted that this will go toward the
Resolution 80-2007 – A resolution approving certain transfers between
major categories of the Wicomico County Board of Education Operating Budget for
Fiscal Year 2007; transferring a total of $66,774.00. On motion of Mrs.
Bartkovich and second of Mr. MacLeod Resolution 80-2007 was unanimously
approved.
Resolution 81-2007 – A resolution extending the date for the adoption of
the Annual Budget and Appropriation Bill from June 1 to June 15, 2007. On motion of Mrs. Prettyman and second by Mrs.
Sample-Hughes Resolution 81-2007 was unanimously approved.
Mr. Lenox informed council
that annually the Department of Housing and Community Development sends a
letter asking for authorization to transfer its housing bond allocation. He
explained that there are not any funds transferred between the county and the state;
the allocation represents the amount of volume cap authority that would have
been available to
Mr. Baker stated there is not
a resolution presented because the request is for approval for signature to a
submitted form letter, within which one document contains designation of
preferred method of participation. Council historically has authorized
allocation toward CDA Maryland Mortgage Program and it is recommended that council
consider authorization of the 2007 allocation of $2,667, 213.00 toward that
again. Mr. Lenox will verify that we follow the same programs done in 2006. Mrs.
Bartkovich made a motion to approve signature on letter of transfer of $2,667,213.00
bond allocations back to Maryland Department of Housing and Community
Development assigned to the mortgage program, subject to verification of 2006
action. The motion was second by Mr. McCain and unanimously approved.
Introduction
of Mr. Tyler C. Patton, Special Assistant to United States Senator Barbara A.
Mikulski. Mr. Patton offered
his assistance to the county at the Federal level. Mr. Cannon sent greetings
from council to Mrs. Mikulski and commented a visit from the Senator would be
appreciated. Mr. Patton stated that the
Senator does have future plans to visit.
Mr. Edgar A. Baker, Jr.,
Public Hearing: Resolution 83-2007 and Resolution
84-2007 - Ag Preservation – Gloria Smith, Planning and Zoning
Mrs. Smith came before
Council with recommendations for establishment of two Agricultural Land
Preservation Districts in
The two applications have
been reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the County Agricultural
Land Preservation Advisory Board for consistency with the County Comprehensive Plan
and both are found to be in accord with each respective plan.
Mrs. Smith also advised that
there are currently seventy-four established districts that cover 10,288 acres
in
Public Hearing: Resolution 83-2007 - A
resolution approving the establishment of the William W. Kenney Agricultural
Preservation District. On motion of Mrs. Prettyman and second by Mr. Holloway
Resolution 83-2007 was unanimously approved.
Public Hearing: Resolution 84-2007 – A
resolution approving the establishment of the Franklin L. Donaway Agricultural
Preservation District. On motion of Mrs. Bartkovich and second by Mr. MacLeod
Resolution 84-2007 was unanimously approved.
Siesta Group Lease –
Mr. Ryan came before council
to express that Salisbury Wicomico Economic Development in conjunction with the
Airport Commission has been successful in renovating the former terminal
building into a small business incubator. The Siesta Group is a software
development firm, headquartered in
Public Hearing: Resolution 82- 2007 – A
resolution approving the lease of Unit 3 of the first floor of The Ward Building
by the Wicomico County Airport Commission to Siesta Group for a term of one
year, with an option to renew for two renewal periods of one year each. On
motion of Mrs. Sample-Hughes and second of Mrs. Prettyman Resolution 82-2007
was unanimously approved.
Public Hearing - Resolution 85-2007: Community
Development Block Grant – Jack Lenox,
Director, Planning and Zoning
Mr. Lenox came before council
and began by introducing new Community Development Planner, Robin Ayele. Mr.
Lenox went on to define that the Public Hearing is required both for state and
federal procedures for the Community Development Block Grant. The proposal is
regarding federal money for which the community is eligible to apply and does
have associated restrictions. In this
instance the
Margaret (Peggy) Bradford,
Director M.A.C., Inc gave an overview of the proposed senior facility project
in which she explained that in fiscal year 2006, council put forth a proposal
to the State. The
State reviewed the proposal
and while it scored among the top proposals reviewed, it was not approved
because the Department on Aging bond money for senior
centers was not in place. Mrs. Bradford
stated that at this point that money has been applied for, approved and is in
the new budget for the new state year.
The request before council is
to apply for $800,000.00 toward the construction of a new senior multi-purpose
facility. The need for the facility is
based on conditions in current housing originally built in 1923 as a
tuberculosis sanatorium, does not meet safety codes and is not in compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Becker Morgan Group has been chosen for this
project which will house an on-site kitchen (Meals on Wheels), sufficient
training space and computer labs. An architectural rendering was shown to those
in attendance. In addition to the request being made for the Community
Development Block Grant, three million dollars has already been committed and
additional requests are being sought from other sources.
Public Comments:
Augustine DiGiovanna offered
his support with great confidence.
Joe Albero congratulated Mrs.
Bradford for a great job acquiring resources.
Council Comments:
Mrs. Sample-Hughes questioned
Mr. Lenox if the county would be restricted from applying for funds should the county
population exceed 200,000. Mr. Lenox replied that if the County does realize the
threshold of population, the county will shift into the entitlement category.
This would be an advantage because then needs are assumed and given money based
on being more predictable.
Mr. MacLeod expressed
confidence and a keen awareness of Mrs. Bradford’s skills for developing senior
citizen programs throughout the area, further stating that she will do a
magnificent job and wishes Council to support this project.
Resolution 85-2007 – A resolution in support of the request of M.A.C., Inc.
for assistance through the Community Development Block Grant program in the
amount of Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars for the construction and equipping of
a new
Enrolled Bill – Legislative Bill 2007 – 1 Arts &
Entertainment Property Tax Credit
Mr. Baker presented council
with Legislative Bill 2007-1 fully signed and approved by the
Public Comments:
Augustine DiGiovanna recited
several paragraphs from a letter he presented to Council in which he requested they
overturn a decision made by the planning commission based on parts of the
Council comments:
Mr. Holloway invited everyone
to attend a community clean up Saturday, May 19, 2007 from 8 am – 12
pm along
Mrs. Prettyman asked Mr.
Baker if he was in possession of a copy of the management agreement with the
Mr. Shea was called upon to
comment on his recollection and stated that when the building was first
constructed the courts building behind it was not constructed, with that whole
area having been a parking lot. At that
time, the county did not have any mechanism for undertaking the parking operation
so it was agreed to the best of his knowledge, not in writing, that the city
would provide the parking meters, the striping and do all that was necessary to
create the parking lot and that they would then get the revenue and in effect
operate the parking lot for the County. Over time a good part of the lot was
taken for construction of the courts building. The balance of
the property, with the exception of the area that the County vehicles park, was
still retained and maintained and operated through the City.
Mrs. Prettyman said that she
is appalled that the Mayor has taken it upon herself to ask the elected County officials
not to park in that parking lot unless they pay. After some discussion it was
agreed that Mr. Cannon and Mrs. Schonbrunner would address the situation and
left open the option to discuss this further in a work session.
Mr. MacLeod commented on a splendid
morning program with Resolutions honoring people and felt that it would be
beneficial to have a photographer for such events in order to submit photos to
the newspaper for publishing. He suggested that the Public Information Officer
take on this task. Council concurs that
he has made a good point.
On motion of Mr. McCain and
second of Mrs. Sample-Hughes the meeting was adjourned.
Legislative Session
May 15, 2007
___________________________
John T. Cannon, President
___________________________
___________________________
William R. McCain, At-Large
____________________________
Sheree Sample-Hughes, District
One
____________________________
Gail M. Bartkovich, District
Three
____________________________
David A. MacLeod, District Four
____________________________
___________________
Council Administrator