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Regular Session Recap - January 31, 2012
1/31/2012
The Mayor and Council opened their meeting on this evening with a workshop session to review preliminary budget information for the upcoming fiscal year. Business for the regular session included the sale of city homes to Habitat for Humanity, implementing speed cameras in school zones, funding summer playcamps, purchasing recycling totes and improving city streets.
The council unanimously passed the introduction of an ordinance to sell three City-owned homes to Habitat for Humanity of Washington County. These homes were previously purchased with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and the City made renovations and improvements with the intention of the homes being sold under the CDBG Homeownership Program for low to moderate-income residents. The three houses will be sold as a package deal for $100,000. Habitat will now make the homes available to their clients, thus fulfilling the CDBG program guidelines and providing affordable owner-occupied housing for families.
Council also approved ordinances to establish school zones and authorize the use of speed cameras in those areas. The council previously approved a contract for the installation of over a dozen speed cameras through the Brekford Corporation. School zones will be determined by a distance of 200 yards from either a named street or the property line of the school. The ordinance also makes it clear that there must be signs marking where the cameras are utilized and they will only be operating from 6:00 a.m - 8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. The fine for a speeding offense is $40, but violators who pay within a week of receiving the citation will be given a $5 discount. This makes Hagerstown’s school zone speed violation fine the lowest in the state of Maryland.
The council showed their continuing support to Hagerstown’s youth and programs to further their education by approving resolutions to help fund summer playcamps. The Hagerstown YMCA will receive $35,000 to facilitate two playcamps at Hellane Park and Pangborn Park. The Memorial Recreation Center will have $17,000 from the City to run a program at Wheaton Park for eight weeks this summer. Finally, Girls, Inc. will run a playcamp out of their center with a City contribution of $15,000. In their totality, these programs serve 165 children in the Hagerstown community over the summer months. These resolutions demonstrate the city’s commitment to a long-standing partnership with these agencies.
City residents will soon be receiving their recycling totes and the recycling incentive program will be in full-swing starting in April. Council approved an ordinance for a loan to finance and purchase the totes. The governing body also approved Rehrig Pacific Company for the acquisition and delivery of the containers. City residents should look for a postcard in their mail which will provide the option to select a particular size container based on their recycling habits.
Residents will also have a say about whether candidates will disclose their party affiliation on voting ballots. The Mayor and Council approved a referendum question on the non-binding ballot that will ask voters whether future primary and general City elections should be changed to non-partisan elections. If a non-partisan election format is approved by Mayor and Council, the two candidates with the highest votes in the primary election will run for mayor in the general election regardless of their party affiliation. Likewise, the 10 candidates with the highest number of votes in the primary will be up for election to the council in the general election.
Some of the city’s streets will soon be improved under the annual Pavement Preservation Program. Each year streets that are showing wear and tear are targeted to be re-surfaced through a milling and overlaying process. Mayor and Council approved the projects for 2012, which include:
?Marshall Street, in the area of Linganore Ave. to Stratford Ave.
?Summit Avenue, in the area of Howard St. to W. Wilson Blvd.
?Hamilton Boulevard, in the area of Northern Ave. to W. Irvin Ave.
?St. Clair Street, in the area of Park Ln. to W. Irvin Ave.
?Virginia Avenue overpass, in each of four directions
?South Walnut Street, in the area of Antietam St. to Washington St.
?Manila Avenue, in the area of Potomac Ave. to the alley west of Mulberry Ave.
The last time these streets were re-surfaced ranges from 1969 - 1992. This list is subject to change based on cost fluctuations. Mayor and Council also reviewed streets on the proposed list for 2013, which include other sections of Hamilton Boulevard, Cleveland Avenue and Burhans Boulevard. An additional note: council approved an ordinance to name Alley 5-30 and 5-32 as “Lou Scally Alley” in honor of the long-time local radio and television personality for his years of service to the community.
City staff is another step closer to starting rehab work on a building façade along North Potomac Street that will become artist housing with a cooperative gallery space. Council approved a contract with Modern Construction Services, Inc. to renovate the façade at 36-40 North Potomac Street. CDBG funds will cover the costs, and city staff hopes to see the work begin in March.
The next work session is scheduled for February 7th at 4:00 p.m.
