The Wicomico County Council Met in Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. in Council Chambers, Government Office Building, Salisbury, Maryland
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The Wicomico County Council met in Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in Council Chambers, Government Office Building, Salisbury, Maryland. President Gail M. Bartkovich called the meeting to order. Present: Gail M. Bartkovich, President; Joe Holloway, Vice President; Matt Holloway, Sheree Sample-Hughes, Stevie Prettyman and Robert M. Caldwell. Bob Culver was absent. In attendance: Matthew E. Creamer, Council Administrator; Edgar A. Baker, Jr., County Attorney; Maureen Lanigan Assistant County Attorney and Melissa Holland, Recording Secretary. On motion of Mr. Caldwell and second by Mrs. Prettyman the minutes of January 4, 2011 were unanimously approved. Matthew E. Creamer, Council Administrator: Mr. Creamer explained that Mr. Culver was absent as the flight that he was scheduled to take had been canceled and he would not be able to arrive in time for the meeting. Mr. Creamer also explained that a Resolution for the East Side Men’s Club was on the table to consider the issue of granting a waiver for 2009 and 2010. Previously a Resolution was passed that was amended to waive 2011 and forward and not retroactive. There was no one from the East Side Men’s Club in attendance at the previous meeting as representatives stated were unaware a Resolution was on the Council agenda. An opportunity is now before the Council to waiver the real property taxes for 2009 and 2010. Resolution 08-2011-Granting East Side Men’s Club a Tax Exemption for Real Property taxes for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010-Frank Ennis, President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Mike Stein, Treasurer for East Side Men’s Club and Richard Wood, Vice President of East Side Men’s Club came before Council. Mr. Ennis passed out a binder presentation for the Council. He also submitted a revised spreadsheet of all donations for the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He also presented various certificates and recognition which has been presented to the Fraternal Order of the Eagles by various organizations. Mr. Ennis gave a comprehensive description of all the events and the help in which they give to the citizens of Wicomico County. They provide many events and donations to people in need and help a lot of children stay off the street by donating to clubs to keep them active. Mrs. Sample-Hughes expressed her appreciation for all that the Fraternal Order of Eagles does for the community however she wanted to explain to them that while she does appreciate their work she will not be able to support the waiver for 2009 and 2010. Mr. Ennis explained how the back taxes accrued and why the taxes were not paid. He explained that East Side Men’s Club could not keep the property due to no income coming in. The property was transferred to the Fraternal Order of Eagles however a few members of East Side Men’s Club wanted to resurrect East Side Men’s Club and filed a quick claim deed against the Fraternal Order of Eagles. No notification was given to the Fraternal Order of Eagles however the deed was transferred back to the East Side Men’s Club. The Fraternal Order of Eagles was not aware for two years the property was not in their name and they paid all of the bills for the building and the property. The Fraternal Order of Eagles did not realize the property was delinquent until it was in the newspaper for tax sale. A unanimous vote was taken for the property to be transferred back to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. They have been working with the Court system as well and complying with all orders given. They were told however by the City of Salisbury and the County that they can’t get a deed in their name until the taxes were paid. The City of Salisbury granted their tax waiver. Mrs. Prettyman thanked them for all of their hard work and dedication to the community. Mrs. Prettyman made a motion to accept Resolution 08-2011 with a second by Mr. Caldwell. Resolution 08-2011 was duly approved with Sample-Hughes and Matt Holloway voting in opposition. Mr. Creamer explained that the Resolutions for Council appointments have been grouped together and will be approved in a block for each person. One motion will be given with a second which will approve all Resolutions for each member instead of doing motions and seconds for each Resolution. Resolution 09-2011-Confirming the appointment of Gail M. Bartkovich to the Core Service Agency Mental Health Advisory Committee- Resolution 10-2011-Confirming the appointment of Gail M. Bartkovich to the Wicomico County Planning and Zoning Commission- Resolution 11-2011-Confirming the appointment of Gail M. Bartkovich to the Wicomico County School Building Commission- On motion of Mrs. Prettyman and second by Mr. Caldwell Resolution 09-2011, 10-2011 and 11-2011 were unanimously approved. Resolution 12-2011-Confirming the appointment of Robert M. Caldwell to the Board of Library Trustees- Resolution 13-2011-Confirming the appointment of Robert M. Caldwell to the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce- Resolution 14-2011-Confirming the appointment of Robert M. Caldwell to the Commission on Aging- On motion of Mr. Matt Holloway and second by Mrs. Prettyman Resolution 12-2011, 13-2011 and 14-2011 were unanimously approved. Resolution 15-2011-Confirming the appointment of Bob Culver as a Designated Director of PAC 14, Inc- Resolution 16-2011-Confirming the appointment of Bob Culver to the Wicomico County Recreation and Parks Commission- Resolution 17-2011-Confirming the appointment of Bob Culver to the Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development “SWED” Revolving Loan Committee- On motion of Mr. Caldwell and second by Mrs. Sample-Hughes Resolutions 15-2011, 16-2011 and 17-2011 were unanimously approved. Resolution 18-2011-Confirming the appointment of Matt Holloway to the Natural Resources Conservation Advisory Committee- Resolution 19-2011-Confirming the appointment of Matt Holloway to the Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development “SWED” Revolving Loan Committee- On motion of Mrs. Sample-Hughes and second by Mr. Caldwell Resolutions 18-2011 and 19-2011 were unanimously approved. Resolution 20-2011-Confirming the appointment of Joe Holloway to the Wicomico County School Building Commission- Resolution 21-2011-Confirming the appointment of Joe Holloway to the Shore Up! Inc.- On motion of Mr. Caldwell and second by Mrs. Prettyman Resolutions 20-2011 and 21-2011 were unanimously approved. Resolution 22-2011-Confirming the re-appointment of Sheree Sample- Hughes to the Wicomico County Social Services Advisory Board- Resolution 23-2011-Confirming the appointment of Sheree Sample- Hughes to the Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development “SWED” Board of Directors- On motion of Mr. Joe Holloway and second by Mr. Caldwell Resolutions 22-2011 and 23-2011 were unanimously approved. Resolution 24-2011-Confirming the appointment of Stevie Prettyman to the Salisbury/Wicomico Metropolitan Planning Organization-On motion of Mr. Joe Holloway and second by Mr. Caldwell Resolution 24-2011 was unanimously approved. Discussion of a policy regarding public testimony and materials at public hearings- Mr. Creamer explained there was a request for an upcoming public hearing for an interested party to present a DVD at the public hearing. Council members agreed that any materials that the public would like to present to the Council must be given to the Council office by the Wednesday before the meeting to allow the materials to be placed in the Council’s brief book with enough copies for all Council members and an office copy and that public hearings will be devoted to oral testimony only. Mr. Joe Holloway does not feel this will limit the amount of information given to the Council or the public. Mrs. Sample-Hughes said she is interested in reviewing the DVD’s and any other media the public would like to present but would like it to be placed in the Council brief book in order to allow time to review. A resolution will be prepared for the next Council meeting on February 1, 2011. Elected School Board Discussion: This could be placed on the ballot in 2012 and the Legislators could enact in Legislative Session in 2013. Mr. Baker said the Delegation will need to be asked if they want a straw ballot for an elected school board or a modified school board. This needs to be structured now before it is placed on the ballot. The elected school board could then be in place in 2014. Mrs. Sample-Hughes would like to have a firm understanding of what the format would be. Mr. Caldwell is in favor of electing all seven. Mr. Matt Holloway would like the process to mirror elections for the Council. Mr. Joe Holloway would also like to see all seven elected. President Bartkovich would like five members elected and two appointed. Mr. Joe Holloway and Mr. Caldwell would like it to be a non partisan board. The Council would also like this done by Councilmanic districts. Mrs. Sample-Hughes would like all of the information to make a decision about this. She would like to hear the public’s opinion on this as well. They began to discuss qualifications such as how long someone has lived in the County and criminal background checks and what the other counties have for qualifications. Mr. Joe Hollowayfeels the voters can decide the qualifications as does Mr. Matt Holloway. President Bartkovich also said a Disclosure statement is also given to candidates. Mr. Baker will prepare a Resolution to make the board non partisan and elected by Councilmanic districts with five districts and two at-large. Mrs. Prettyman asked if there was no interest in one district what would occur to which Mr.