City of Crisfield

Minutes for Public Meetings

Minutes for Regular Meeting: October 12, 2005

The Mayor and City Council met in Regular session on
Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. in the meeting room in City Hall.

PRESENT

Richard Scott, Mayor
Catherine A. Brown, Council Vice President
Carolyn Evans, Councilwoman
Daniel Thompson, Councilman
Roger R. Riggin, Jr., Councilman
Percy J. Purnell, Jr., Councilman
Calvin Dize, City Manager
Joyce L. Morgan, Clerk-Treasurer
Robin R. Cockey, City Solicitor

Also in attendance; Valerie Swift, Secretary. See copy of signed attendance sheet.

Mayor Scott called the meeting to order and opened with the Lord’s Prayer and

the Pledge of Allegiance. He advised anyone not wishing to participate to step outside.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Council Vice President Brown requested a motion to approve the minutes from

the Special Meeting of September 29th, Closed Meeting of September 29th, Special

Meeting of September 22nd, Regular Meeting of September 14th and Special Meeting of

September 14th. So moved, with the necessary modifications as indicated by Councilman

Purnell, by Councilman Thompson, seconded by Councilman Riggin and carried unanimously.

APPOINTMENTS

MR. GARY TULL appeared before the Mayor and City Council to request that

sewer be installed to his shanty at the Small Boat Harbor. He advised that this is being

required by the Health Department as he is selling seafood from that location.

Council Vice President Brown advised that sewer is not available there and would

have to be installed at the owner’s expense. Mayor Scott advised that if sewer is made

available, others in the location may have to hook up. He also questioned whether or not

retail was allowed there. Mr. Tull stated that he had advised the Mayor and Council that

he was selling seafood there.

Councilman Riggin inquired about making the other’s in the area hook up if Mr.

Tull paid for his own connection.

Mr. Cockey advised that if the line is available, the request must be honored, but

the City can require others in the area to hook up and pay.

During further discussion, Mayor Scott suggested that Mr. Tull speak with others

in that area to see if they would agree to hooking in and paying. Mr. Tull requested that

the Mayor and Council take his request into consideration.

MRS. LOUISE TAWES AND SON DAVID appeared before the Mayor and City

Council concerning the continuing issue of sewer and ditch overflow on her property

during heavy rain and high tides. She noted that she appreciates the work that the City

has done, but is still experiencing problems.

Mr. Dize advised that he had met with Davis, Bowen and Friedel who have advised

that the drain and pipes in the area could be jetted. He also advised that a Flapper

valve would be installed on the Donald Gerald property.

During further discussion, Councilman Purnell suggested piping the ditch from

Cove to 2nd Street and raising the drain there. Mrs. Tawes commented that when work

was being done on that street in 1998, the engineer had advised her that this would be

done, but it never was.

Councilman Purnell also suggested building a berm around the ditch and Mrs.

Tawes’ property to alleviate the overflow.

After further brief discussion, Councilman Purnell made a motion to authorize Mr.

Dize to obtain a price for pipe and the City proceed to pipe the rest of the ditch. Motion

seconded by Councilwoman Evans and carried unanimously.

Councilman Purnell also noted that the City is working on addressing sewer issues

through proposed construction of a holding tank and the re-lining of the 1930 pipe.

Mr. Tawes suggested that the manhole in front of the property be eliminated.

Councilman Riggin advised that the manhole is necessary.

MR. DAVID TURCO appeared before the Mayor and City Council to request

a sewer allocation for property on Sackertown Road. He advised that the line is already

available for him to make a connection.

Mayor Scott advised that the City is limited in its’ capacity to allocate sewer.

Councilman Purnell added that the City is out of sewer.

Mr. Cockey advised that if the City has the ability to serve, it can do so but can

deal by moratorium. Mayor Scott added that those in City limits would be served first.

Mayor Scott suggested that Mr. Turco continue to pursue his request, checking

with the City periodically.

Councilman Purnell advised that the City is working on a way to get a holding

tank for extra capacity.

Mr. Turco made reference to the agreement the City has with the Sanitary District

that allows a property owner outside City limits to tap in, if sewer is available.

Mr. Cockey advised that if the capacity is not available, this is not physically pos-

sible and it is not a legal issue.

Mr. Turco stated that he feels this a violation of the Sanitary District agreement.

During further discussion, Councilman Purnell advised Mr. Turco to come back

in 30 days.

NEW BUSINESS

Council Vice President Brown made reference to several water and sewer allocation

requests. It was concurred that all would be tabled for 30 days.

Mr. Dize made reference to a letter from Dr. Kato requesting annexation of his

property at Skipjack Lane. During a brief discussion, Mr. Cockey advised that this prop-

erty was not contiguous to any other in that area, therefore it would require forced annex-

ation. He advised that Dr. Kato would have to purchase the adjoining wetland area or

have the owner of it agree to annexation.

Council Vice President Brown presented an Event Application for the annual

Kiwanis Halloween Parade for Saturday, October 29th. She noted proper insurance

certification.

At this time, Councilwoman Evans made a motion to approve the request for the

Halloween Parade, seconded by Councilman Riggin and carried unanimously.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

At this time, Mr. Dize made reference to the opening of fuel bids for the upcoming season.

Mr. Dize noted that two bid packets had been received; the first from Tilghman

Oil as follows; #2 Fuel - $2.28.9, Regular unleaded - $2.52.9 and Diesel - $2.89.

The second bid received was from Tawes Brothers Oil as follows; $2.30.088 for

87 octane unleaded, $2.84.767 for 89 octane, $2.36.17 for Diesel and $2.26.002 for #2

Fuel.

After review of these bids, Councilwoman Evans made a motion to award #2 Fuel,

Diesel and 87 Octane gasoline to Tawes Brothers Oil. Motion seconded by Council Vice

President Brown and carried unanimously.

Mr. Dize made reference to a letter in the Mayor and Council’s packet concerning

the Somers Cove Motel lease. Councilman Purnell advised that this matter needs more

consideration.

Mr. Dize made reference to the preliminary estimate for the cost of the lift station.

Mayor Scott advised that this matter needs to be acted upon as soon as possible.

Following a brief discussion, Councilman Purnell made a motion to proceed, con-

tingent upon a two week time period for Davis, Bowen and Friedel to act or another engi-

neer will be obtained, with the rehabilitation of the Jersey Island Pump Station, up to

$85,000. During discussion, Councilman Thompson agreed, but made reference to pad-

ding of the bill. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Evans and carried unanimously.

Mayor Scott advised that the rehab or replacement of the downtown sewer lines

also needs to be acted upon.

Mr. Dize advised that the lines would first need to be televised.

Mayor Scott suggested that new lines be installed, not through the pipe bursting method.

Councilman Thompson advised to go forward with televising the lines.

During further brief discussion, Councilman Purnell made a motion that Mr. Dize

obtain the final price and go forward with obtaining a funding source for digging out and

proceeding to replace the downtown sewer lines.

Motion seconded by Council Vice President Brown and carried unanimously.

There being no further business for discussion, Councilwoman Evans made a mo-

tion adjourn, seconded by Council Vice President Brown and carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce L. Morgan
Clerk-Treasurer

Prepared by Valerie Swift, Secretary

MINUTES ARCHIVE LIST

Minutes for Public Meetings