City of Crisfield
Minutes for Public Meetings
The Mayor and City Council met in regular session
on : October 10, 2007
The Mayor and City Council met in regular session on Wednesday,
October 10, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the Tawes Museum.
PRESENT
Percy J. Purnell, Jr., Mayor
Raymond D. Anderson, Council Vice President
Roger R. Riggin, Jr., Councilman
Kimberly B. Lawson, Councilman
LaVerne Johnson, Councilwoman
Joyce L. Morgan, Clerk-Treasurer
Robin Cockey, City Solicitor
Also in attendance; Valerie Swift, Secretary Bill Mister,
Inspector. Please see list of others in attendance.
Mayor Purnell called the meeting to order, opening with the
Lord’s Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. At this time, the
Mayor reviewed the Agenda for this evening’s meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Purnell requested approval of the minutes from the
previous meetings. At this time, Councilman Riggin made a motion
to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of September 26,
the meeting concerning the Somers Cove Marina on September 13
and the Closed Meeting on September 18, as written. Motion
seconded by Councilwoman Johnson and carried unanimously.
1st SESSION OF PUBLIC INPUT
Mr. Rick Evans advised that Food Lion reps. are working on the
final drawing, the engineer has been hired and wants to leave a
vehicle at the airport as he will be traveling back and forth
beginning November 1st. He advised that work should begin on the
site in November; construction should start in early Spring and
the store should be open in September of 2008.Mayor Purnell made
reference to conversation with Joe Corrado, owner of Forbush
Hardware and Clarence Sterling Hardware. He advised that Mr.
Corrado has decided to close both stores. Mr. Robbie Gunter, who
operates Forbush Hardware, advised that he has been working on
finding a place to relocate the store. He thanked the Mayor and
Council for their cooperation concerning repair of the back of
the building.Councilman Lawson advised that the City would grant
them some leeway
while they are working to relocate the business.Mayor Purnell
commented that the City had gone out on a limb to keep
thebusiness open. He advised that Mr. Corrado has stated that he
plans to demolish the
building. Councilman Lawson went on to read aloud the letter
from Mr. Corrado.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
SECOND READER LOITERING ORDINANCE
Mayor Purnell made reference to the Loitering
Ordinance which was supposed to be presented for second reader at
this meeting. He also made reference to the challenge letter
received from the ACLU. Mayor Purnell asked that the second reader
be tabled for review.
At this time, Councilman Lawson made a motion to reject the
Ordinance at this time, for review of First Reader to be reviewed by
Mr. Cockey. Motion seconded by Council Vice President Anderson and
carried unanimously.
SECOND AMENDMENT TO SUBLEASE AGREEMENT SOMERS COVE
MOTEL
Mayor Purnell made reference to adoption of a second amendment to
the sublease agreement of the Somers Cove Motel. At this time,
Councilman Lawson made a motion to adopt the 2nd amendment to the
Somers Cove Motel Lease, effective November 30, 2007, to run for one
year, which allows them to sublease the motel, with no change in the
operation.Motion seconded by Councilman Riggin and carried
unanimously.
SECOND READER – ZONING CHANGES
Mayor Purnell reviewed the four Planning Commission recommendations
for the SRP. He also made reference to the establishment of a
“floating zone” in the SRP, in which the Mayor and Council can make
determinations based on benefits to the City.Mayor Purnell noted
that first reader of #1 and #4 of the SRP recommendations was done
on September 12, 2007.
At this time, Councilman Lawson made a motion to accept for 2nd
reader the
language as submitted by the Planning Commission for items of #1 and
#4 of the SRP
recommendations- (1)Delay any commitments to private property owners
or
developers (ie.rezoning, land swap, right of way abandonment) until
the SRP is
completed, and (4) Amend the “I-1) Light Industrial District to
eliminate Section 11247A(10) Hotel, Motels, and Conference Centers. Motion seconded by
Council Vice
President Anderson and carried unanimously.
Mayor Purnell made reference to items #2 and #3 and the letter from
Mr. Cockey.
Mr. Cockey advised that after reviewing his initial recommendation,
he has
determined that it may not stand up in court. He advised that the
Council should
adopt a floating zone to allow them to custom design zoning
classifications for
particular developments. Mr. Cockey noted that by amending the Code
through the
floating zone approach, the Mayor and Council can either allow or
disallow and can
fine tune to make a development compatible with goals of the City.
He advised that
this is a progressive approach. Mr. Cockey recommended that this be
adopted for
first reader.At this time, Councilman Lawson made a motion to reject last months
motion for recommendation of #2 and #3. Motion seconded by Council
Vice
President Anderson and carried unanimously.
At this time, Council Vice President Anderson made a motion for
first reader
that multifamily and condominium uses will no longer be permitted by
special exception in TM Districts; such uses will henceforth be permitted in such
districts by
implementation of a so-called “Floating Zone”, approved by the Mayor
and City
Council; and the schedule of district regulations for TM districts
be amended to
limit the height permitted in TM Districts to 35 feet, (it’s
presently 75 feet).Motion seconded by Councilman Lawson and carried unanimously.Mayor Purnell noted that Mr. Johnston is planning on holding the
next SRP meeting on a Saturday, and he urged citizens to attend.
36 SEWER UPDATE
Mayor Purnell advised that the City had received a letter from DHCD
that we would be receiving $200K with the option to ask for
additional funds in the Spring.
NEW BUSINESS
BORROWING RESOLUTION – INTERIM FINANCING FOR 36
SEWER
Mrs. Joyce L. Morgan, Clerk-Treasurer, made reference to the
Borrowing Resolution for $1,444,000 for interim financing for the 36
sewer and advised that she had obtained interest rates from three
local banks; PNC – 3.85, Hebron –3.89 and BB&T – 3.94. After a brief
discussion, Councilman Lawson made a motion to accept the PNC Bank
interest rate of 3.85%. Motion seconded by Council Vice President
Anderson and carried unanimously.
REQUEST FOR EDU – EUGENE EVANS
Mayor Purnell made reference to a request from Eugene Evans for his
boatyard. Mr. Evans advised that this would be for domestic purposes
only.Mayor Purnell advised that he had Mr. Frock, Public Utilities
Superintendent, review the request. He read the letter from Mr.
Frock, aloud, which noted that a Sampling manhole would need to be
installed.Mr. Evans advised that he has water and septic at the
boatyard, but
never had any sewer, due to the cost. He advised that he is now in
the position to have the sewer line run, but needs an EDU letter
from the City for the Sanitary District.Following a lengthy
discussion between Mr. Evans and the Mayor and regarding subdividing
the property and what it would be used for, Councilman
Lawson made a motion that the matter be tabled for consideration.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Johnson. During discussion,
Councilman Lawson advised that the details would be worked out with
Mr. Evans before the next meeting, since there is no present front
footage. He also inquired of Mr. Cockey whether or not the City has
the obligation to provide the EDU. Mr. Cockey advised that there is
no obligation
since the line is not there.Mayor Purnell suggested that the Council
approve the EDU with the contingencies in Mr. Frock’s letter. The
City will draft a letter to the Sanitary District stating the
provisions.Councilman Lawson advised that he wants to table the
request.Mayor Purnell advised that the City would draft a
conditional letter to the County.
PARKING REQUEST – MARTIN TYLER
Mr. Martin Tyler appeared before the Mayor and City Council to
request two 15 minute parking spaces in front of his snowball stand
on W. Main Street, during the months of April to September from
12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. Councilman Riggin inquired if Mr. Tyler
would have a problem if someone else used the spaces. Mr. Tyler
advised that this would be no problem. Following a brief discussion,
Councilman Lawson made a motion to allow, during the summer months,
two 15 minute parking spaces in front of Mr. Tyler’s snowball stand.
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Anderson and carried
unanimously. Mr. Tyler also made reference to ingress/egress off of
Richardson Avenue for parking, and then exit the lot onto Main
Street.
Mayor Purnell advised Mr. Tyler to present a drawing of this plan.
2ND SESSION OF PUBLIC INPUT
Mrs. Alex Ryan commended the City on the diagonal parking on Main
street,but noted that some vehicles are lengthy. Mr. Austin Cox,
Sr., inquired about the City’s Bond Rating with the Loan. He
commented that it should be covered under the sewer grant.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Councilwoman Johnson advised that she had nothing to report
Councilman Riggin thanked everyone for attending tonight’s meeting.
Councilman Lawson advised that he had nothing to report. Council
Vice President Anderson advised that the City would be presenting a
Proclamation to Mr. Austin Cox at the first meeting in November.
There being no further business for discussion, Council Vice
President Anderson made a motion to adjourn, seconded by
Councilwoman Johnson and carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joyce L. Morgan, Clerk-Treasurer
Prepared by Valerie Swift, Secretary
Minutes for Public Meetings
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