City of Crisfield

Minutes for Public Meetings

Minutes for Regular Meeting: February 14, 2007

The Mayor and City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tawes Museum.

PRESENT

Percy J. Purnell, Mayor
Raymond D. Anderson, Council Vice President
Roger R. Riggin, Jr., Councilman
Kimberly B. Lawson, Councilman
Barry Dize, Councilman
LaVerne Johnson, Councilwoman
Calvin Dize, City Manager
Joyce L. Morgan, Clerk-Treasurer

Also in attendance; Valerie Swift, Secretary; Bill Mister, Insepctor;
Harold W. Frock, Sr., Superintendent of Public Works; Liz Holland, Richard Crum-
backer; Freddie McKee; Eddie & Sue Heath; Philip Goldsborough; Alex Ryan;
Catherine A. Brown, Margo Green-Gale, Mary L. Paige; Beverly Purnell and Mike
and Pat Tabor.

MAYOR’S WELCOME, INVOCATION AND READING OF AGENDA

Mayor Purnell called the meeting to order, opening with the Lord’s
Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Purnell made reference to the decision at the last meeting to
hold the Department Head meeting on the 2nd meeting of the month. He
noted that in this instance, the meetings had been reversed and Department Head
presentations split between meetings.

Mayor Purnell went on to review this evenings’ agenda.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

At this time, Mayor Purnell requested approval of the minutes from the previous months’ meetings.

At this time, Council Vice President Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes from the Closed Meeting of January 24, 2007. Motion seconded by Councilman Lawson and carried unanimously.

Councilman Dize made a motion to approve the minutes from the Public Hearing of January 24, 2007. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Johnson and carried unanimously.

Mayor Purnell noted corrections on page 6 of the Regular Meeting of January
24, 2007.

Council Vice President Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes from the Regular Meeting of January 24, 2007 with the necessary corrections.

Motion seconded by Councilman Lawson and carried unanimously.

Mayor Purnell also noted a correction on page 3 of the minutes from the
Special Meeting of February 6, 2007. Council Vice President Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes from the Special Meeting of February 6, 2007 with the necessary correction. Motion seconded by Councilman Dize and carried unanimously.

Councilman Dize made a motion to approve the minutes from the Closed Meeting of February 6, 2007. Motion seconded by Council Vice President Anderson and carried unanimously.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW POLICE CHIEF

Mayor Purnell made reference to the lengthy selection process for the
hiring of a new Chief of Police. He advised that effective, March 1, 2007, Mr.
Michael Tabor will take over as Chief. At this time, Mayor Purnell introduced
Mr. Tabor.

Mr. Tabor thanked the Mayor and Council for giving him this opportunity.

He advised that he visited Crisfield and decided to build a home here. Mr. Tabor
advised that his roots will be here and that he has an open door policy.

Councilman Lawson advised that he is pleased that Mr. Tabor had an interest
in this area, visiting here and liking it, before getting the job and having to learn to
like the area.

FIRST READER OF ORDINANCE #572

Mrs. Joyce Morgan, Clerk-Treasurer, briefed the Mayor and City
Council regarding the Infrastructure Bond Ordinance which was used for the
Cove & 7th Street paving and drainage project in 1997.

At this time, Councilman Lawson made a motion to adopt this Ordinance
for First Reader. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Johnson and carried unani-
mously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CALVIN DIZE, CITY MANAGER, presented his monthly report, highlighting its contents. Mayor Purnell made reference to the recent ordeal with the heating system at the Armory, but noted that the facility is proving to be well used by our youth.

HAROLD W. FROCK, SR., SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES,
presented his monthly report, highlighting its contents.

Mr. Frock made reference to obtaining bids on a Sewer Vac for this year’s
budget. Mayor Purnell advised that the Council would give Mr. Frock an answer
at the next meeting.

Mr. Frock also made reference to looking into a storage facility to be located
at the Broadway water tower. Mayor Purnell advised Mr. Frock to place the storage
facility out for bids.

Mr. Frock also made reference to looking into using burned oil as a supple-
mental heat source. Mayor Purnell advised Mr. Frock to look into this.

BILL MISTER, INSPECTOR, presented his monthly report, highlighting it’s
contents. He noted that he had not received a response from the property owner of
18 W. Main Street, which had been condemned, and advised that the deadline for it to
go out for demo bids is February 23, 2007. Mr. Mister also advised that the two
other properties that he had posted have advised that they want to make repairs. He
advised that he has given those property owners six months.

Mayor Purnell advised that the City is not trying to hurt anyone, but has
been trying for four years to enforce the clean up and repair of property owned
by people who do not live here.

Public Input Session

Mrs. Pat Carson thanked the City for the new Student Resource Officer
at CHS.

Mrs. Catherine Brown inquired whether or not the Housing Authority
Commission Chairperson has a vote. She noted that the Chairperson, Mrs. Gregory, is the only Housing Authority resident on the Commission. Mayor Purnell advised that
he believes that the Chairperson does have a vote, but would look into the matter.

QUESTION AND ANSWERS MAYOR AND COUNCIL

Councilwoman Johnson thanked everyone for attending. She noted that she had also received questions about the placement of Housing Authority Commission members.

Councilman Lawson noted that Dr. Mike Atkins would like to fill the vacancy on the Planning Commission.

Councilman Lawson made reference to the workshop with the Planning Commission and Chris Jakubiak on March 8th at 5:00 p.m. He urged everyone to attend.

Councilman Lawson also made reference to the letter from Mr. Hannan regarding the Citys’handling of derelict properties. He commented that the City is trying to move forward to have properties repaired and made safe, not Eminent Domain.

Council Vice President Anderson noted that the meeting with the Housing Authority was positive. He also noted that the Mayor and Council and new Chief will be working closely with the Housing Authority.

Councilman Dize extended his welcome to Chief Tabor and his wife.

Mayor Purnell noted there had been two major drug busts in the City in the last two weeks, one on Maryland Avenue and the other in the Housing Authority. Mayor Purnell also thanked those in attendance at this evenings’ meeting.

There being no further business for discussion, Councilman Lawson made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Council Vice President Anderson and carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted
Joyce L. Morgan, Clerk-Treasurer

Prepared by Valerie Swift, Secretary

Minutes for Public Meetings