The City Council met in regular session on August 6, 2001, in City Council Chambers.  A quorum being present, Mayor Cleveland L. Rippons called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Those Commissioners in attendance were Commissioners Bohlen, Watkins, Weldon, Atkinson and Travers.

 

Ed Kinnamon led in the Lord’s Prayer.  Commissioner Atkinson led in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Commissioner Watkins made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 30, 2001 Council meeting as distributed.  Commissioner Travers seconded the motion.  The motion was passed unanimously.   

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS 

 

Traffic & Safety--Commissioner Watkins reported that the Traffic and Safety Committee met on August 1, 2001 to review the two-hour parking restriction on the south side of Cedar Street adjacent to the Bradford House.  It is the Committee’s recommendation to remove the one post identifying this section as two-hour parking and discontinue the time restriction.  Commissioner Watkins made a motion to accept the Committee’s recommendation.  Commissioner Atkinson seconded it.  The motion was passed unanimously.

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

Pastor Tom Schuyler (Greater Works Christian Assembly) to Request Permission to Use City Lot on the Corner of Race and Cedar Streets for Cambridge Gospel Fest 2001 (Sept. 15^th)—Commissioner Atkinson made a motion to approve the request and to grant a variance to the noise ordinance from the start of the event until 9:00 pm.  Commissioner Travers seconded it. The motion was passed unanimously.

                       

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

Final Decision on Tax Abatement for Cambridge Creek Property on Commerce Street—Commissioner Atkinson made a motion to approve the resolution that attorney Ned Nabb prepared.  Commissioner Watkins seconded it.  The resolution is titled “A Resolution of the Commissioners of Cambridge, Maryland, Granting a Tax Abatement for Real Property Taxes to Palisades, LLC”.  Commissioner Weldon gave a brief summary stating that the back taxes that are owed on the property will be paid to the City.  The arrangements listed in the resolution involve future taxes (upon certain conditions) from this point forward.  Mayor Rippons stated that the abatement shall be retroactively revoked if application for Brownfield qualifications is not made to the Maryland Department of Environment or such other regulatory agency as may have jurisdiction over environmentally contaminated property by October 31, 2001.  The abatement is granted exclusively to Palisades, LLC and cannot be assigned.  The motion was passed unanimously. 

 

Approval of Memorandum of Understanding for Management and Maintenance of Governor’s Hall at Sailwinds Park—The official name of the Management Board will be “The Governors Hall at Sailwinds Park Management Board”.  Commissioner Weldon made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding.  Commissioner Travers seconded it.  The motion was passed unanimously. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Funding Source for Emergency Repair of Trenton St. Pump Station—David Pritchett reported that in February or March of last year was when the City began emergency repair of the Trenton Street Pump Station.  One pump went down because a pipe had gone bad.  They have attempted several repairs and nothing has been successful. Two weeks ago the City had a 4-inch rain and with one pump, pumped 3.5 million gallons of sewage. The basement was flooded.   Any day the City has a spillage is a $25,000-a-day fine.  They contacted Hopkins (Bridgeville) to make the repairs which will cost $90,000.  This money was not budgeted.  David Pritchett would like to consider using the money that was originally budgeted for the sludge removal or use $45,000 of the sewer-related funding and forego some other projects this year and get a loan for the remainder. Ed Kinnamon said the City could pay for this emergency item through a loan over time and the following year it can be budgeted back.  Commissioner Atkinson said the failure is due to the age of the pumping station.  It was the original pumping station in Cambridge.  We have failing water and sewer lines because of they are over 100 years old.  Commissioner Atkinson made a motion to fund the project at the correct funding source based on Mr. Kinnamon’s research.  Commissioner Travers seconded it.  The motion was passed unanimously.

 

Mayor to Re-Appoint Members to the Housing Board of Review—Mayor Rippons re-appointed Andrew Atkinson, II; David Cannon; Otto Cheesman; Elvin Hess; John Matthews; and James Slacum to the Housing Board of Review.  Commissioner Bohlen made a motion to approve the Mayor’s re-appointment of the members.  Commissioner Watkins seconded it.  The motion was passed unanimously.

 

Request from Planning & Zoning to Proceed With Demolition of Five Houses—The Department of Planning & Zoning has issued Demolition Notices to the owners of the property at 719 Rigby Avenue, 415 Charles Street, 611 Moores Avenue, 613 Moores Avenue, and 503 Edgewood Avenue.  The individuals who own these properties have not opted to appeal the orders.  Commissioner Travers made a motion to accept the Planning & Zoning Department’s recommendation to proceed with the demolition process and to proceed in the advertising for bids for the demolition process.  Commissioner Weldon seconded it. The motion was passed unanimously.

 

Approve Purchase Order 2054 (J. F. Fisher, Inc.)—Commissioner Atkinson made a motion to approve the purchase order.  Commissioner Bohlen seconded it.  The motion was passed unanimously.

 

Approve Purchase Order 2055 (Baltimore Pile Driving, Inc.)— Commissioner Weldon made a motion to approve the purchase order.  Commissioner Atkinson seconded it.  The motion was passed unanimously.

 

Approve Purchase Order 2056 (Maryland Environmental Services)— Commissioner Travers made a motion to approve the purchase order.  Commissioner Weldon seconded it.  The motion was passed unanimously.

 

Approve Purchase Order 1968 (Graves Uniforms)— Commissioner Watkins made a motion to approve the purchase order.  Commissioner Travers seconded it.  The motion was passed unanimously.

 

 

With no further business, Mayor Rippons adjourned this portion of the meeting at 7:36 p.m.

 

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate account of the Council meeting Monday, August 6, 2001, insofar as I personally am aware.

 

                                               

Edwin C. Kinnamon

Clerk & Treasurer