(Early Start Time: 5:00pm w/ Agenda Change) 17th Mayor and City Council Meeting - Council Chambers

  1. Clerk to the City Council
  2. Meeting Agendas and Minutes
  3. (Early Start Time: 5:00pm w/ Agenda Change) 17th Mayor and City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
Mayor and City Council Meeting
Monday, September 24, 2018 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Agenda

https://www.boarddocs.com/md/colmd/Board.nsf/Public

 

1. Call to order

A. Invocation - Reverend Warren H. Litchfield

B. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America

C. Roll call - Clerk Kimberley Rau

2. Approval of Minutes

A. Approval of Minutes of the Sixteenth Meeting of Monday, September 20, 2018.

3. Report of the Mayor and City Council

A. Reporting on various community events, meetings and announcements.

4. Mayoral Appointments

A. Appointment of William Goddard, City Administrator and Lou Ann Crook, MMC, Deputy City Administrator.

5. General public hearing

A. Members of the public are asked to sign the speakers list at the back of the Council Chambers. Council President calls the speakers from the sign in sheet. Each speaker is asked to give their name and address for the record. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to speak

6. Legislation

A. Second public hearing with possible action on Ordinance No. 1931, Text Amendment No. 250, an ordinance to amend the Laurel Unified Land Development Code; Chapter 20 Land Development and Subdivision, Article I Zoning, Division 5 Zoning Districts, Section 20-7.8, Section 20-8.3, Section 20-9.5, and Section 20-12.3., of the City Code to Allow for a House of Worship in certain Commercial, Office Building, Industrial, and Mixed Use Zones as a permitted use; and providing an effective date.

B. Second public hearing with possible action on Ordinance No. 1932, an ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Md., to amend the City of Laurel Unified Land Development Code; Chapter 20, Land Development and Subdivision, to add Article VIA "Telecommunications facilities in public rights-of-way", to provide for certain standards and regulations relating to the location of telecommunications towers, antennas, and other structures within the city's public rights-of-way, consistent with federal and state law; and providing an effective date.

C. Second public hearing with possible action on Resolution No. 5-18, a resolution creating n Education Advisory Committee.

7. Closed Session

A. Possible adjournment to Closed Session to consult with legal counsel. the authority for this Closed Session is contained in the General Provisions Article Subsection 3-305 (b) (7).

Minutes

 
Seventeenth Mayor and City Council Meeting - Regular  - Monday, September 24, 2018

 

Present:



Craig A. Moe, Mayor; Michael R. Leszcz, Council President; Keith R Syndor, Councilmember; Valerie M.A. Nicholas, Councilmember; Frederick Smalls, Councilmember; Bill Goddard, Deputy City Administrator; Lou Ann Crook, Chief of Staff; Chief Richard McLaughlin, Police Department; Kevin Frost, Director of Information Technology; Dave Cope, Fire Marshal; Joanne Barr, Director of Parks and Recreation; Christian Pulley, Director of Economic and Community Development; Michele Saylor, Director of Budget and Personnel Services; Joseph Adjayi, Department of Public Works; Robert Love, Deputy Director of Business and Economic Development; Joyce Jackson, Deputy Director of Communications; Larry Taub, City Solicitor and Kimberley Rau, Clerk to the Council.  There were eight members of the public present. 

 

President Leszcz called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

 

Mayor Moe led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

 

Roll call - Clerk Kimberley Rau.

 

On motion by Councilmember Smalls, seconded by Councilmember Nicholas, the Minutes of the Sixteenth Meeting of Monday, September 10, 2018, were approved on a unanimous roll call vote.

 

Report of the Mayor and City Council:

 

Condolences extended to City Administrator Marty Flemion and his family on the loss of his sister The Honorable Regina M. Dean.

Patuxent River Commission Meeting held on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, during which the role of the commission was discussed.  

Maryland Municipal League Convention Planning Committee held on Saturday, September 22, 2018, discussed some of the issues that have come up over the past several years.  

St. Vincent Pallotti High School Crabfeast held on Saturday, September 22, 2018, which was completely sold out.

Get well wishes extended to Dawn Hoffman.

City of Laurel hosted a Ukranian Delegation this past week to discuss information technology.  Appreciation to Kevin Frost, Director of Information Technology for his assistance in the presentation.

Prince George's County Municipal Association Meeting on Thursday, September 20, 2018, 7:00 p.m. in Greenbelt.

City of Laurel Employee Relations Committee Yard Sale held on Saturday, September 22, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Municipal Center.  

Prince George's County Councilmember Mary Lehman Family Day on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Fairland Regional Park.

McCeney March will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2018, 9:30 a.m. at the Laurel Museum.

Riverfest will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2018, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

City Offices will be closed on Monday, October 8, 2018, in observance of Columbus Day.

"My Time with the Mayor" will be on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Maintenance Facility on Sandy Spring Road.  

 
Mayor Moe read Proclamation 2018-16, a proclamation recognizing October as National Arts and Humanities Month in the City of Laruel.  He encouraged residents to celebrate, participate and promote the arts and culture in our City, into the record.  He then presented the proclamtion to Joanne Barr, Director of Parks and Recreation.


Mayor Moe read Proclamation 2018-17, announcing the 3rd Annual Walk Laurel Day on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, encouraging citizens to take to the streets, trails and parks throughout the day, into the record.  He then presented the proclamation to Joanne Barr, Director of Parks and Recreation.

Councilmember Fred Smalls wished his grandson CJ a Happy 16th Birthday!

 
Mayoral Appointments:
 
On motion by Councilmember Nicholas, seconded by Councilmember Smalls, the mayoral appointment of William F. Goddard, III, City Administrator, effective September 28, 2018, was approved on a unanimous roll call vote. 
 
After his nomination, Mr. Goddard thanked the Mayor and City Council saying its quite an honor for him to serve as the next City Administrator for the City of Laurel.  As he looks back on his first day, August 1, 2015,  it was the day that caught the community and elected officials by surprise with the announcement of the closing of the Laurel Regional Hospital, which defined who we are as a community that cares about our rights.  Due to the leadership and hardwork of this Mayor and Council, he is happy to say the hosPital will remain open and is proud to have played a small part in that process.  He concluded by saying he is excited to begin this new journey.
 
On motion by Councilmember Nicholas, seconded by Councilmember Smalls, the mayoral appointment of Lou Ann Crook, MMC, Deputy City Administrator, effective September 28, 2018, was approved on a unanimous roll call vote.  
 
After her nomination was approved, Mrs. Crook thanked the Mayor and City Council saying this is a great honor for her after growing up here in the City of Laurel, starting in the Department of Public Works and working her way up to her goal of working in the Mayor's Office.  She looks forward to continuing to help lead our City with this Mayor and City Council and awesome City staff.

President Leszcz opened the General Public Hearing at 5:20 p.m. and closed it with no one present who wished to speak.

 
President Leszcz read the title of Ordinance No. 1931, Text Amendment No. 250, an ordinance to amend the Laurel Unified Land Development Code; Chapter 20 Land Development and Subdivision, Article I Zoning, Division 5 Zoning Districts, Section 20-7.8, Section 20-8.3, Section 20-9.5, and Section 20-12.3., of the City Code to Allow for a House of Worship in certain Commercial, Office Building, Industrial, and Mixed Use Zones as a permitted use; and providing an effective date, into the record for the second reading.  The public hearing was opened at 5:21 p.m. and closed with no one present who wished to speak. 


Robert Love, Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development, said Text Amendment Application No. 250, Ordinance No. 1931 was filed on August 17, 2018 by the Mayor and City Council of Laurel to amend the Laurel Unified Land Development Code.  On August 29, 2018, the proposed ordinance was sent to the Maryland Department of Planning for comment.  The file contains a certicate of publication verifying that this application and public hearing was advertised as required by law in the Septmber 6 and 13 editions of the Prince George's Sentinel.  A memorandum from the City of Laurel Planning Commission to the Mayor and Ctiy Council, dated September 14, 2018, advises that after much discussion at the meeting on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, the Planning Commission tabled the zoning application.



On motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember Nicholas, ORDINANCE NO. 1931, TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 250, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LAUREL UNIFIED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE; CHAPTER 20 LAND DEVELOPMENT AND SUBDIVISION, ARTICLE I ZONING, DIVISION 5 ZONING DISTRICTS, SECTION 20-7.8, SECTION 20-8.3, SECTION 29-9.5, AND SECTION 20-12.3, O FTHE CITY CODE TO ALLOW FOR A HOUSE OF WORSHIP IN CERTAIN COMMERCIAL, OFFICE BUILDING, INDUSTRIAL, AND MIXED USE ZONES AS PERMITTED USE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.  Mayor Moe concurred with this action.

 
President Leszcz read the title of Ordinance No. 1932, an ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Md., to amend the City of Laurel Unified Land Development Code; Chapter 20, Land Development and Subdivision, to add Article VIA "Telecommunications facilities in public rights-of-way", to provide for certain standards and regulations relating to the location of telecommunications towers, antennas, and other structures within the city's public rights-of-way, consistent with federal and state law; and providing an effective date, into the record for the second reading. 

Mayor Moe presented an amendment to the legislation and noted there was a letter received today from Crown Castle regarding this legislation.  

Kevin Frost, Director of Information Technology explained the proposed amendments.

President Leszcz opened the public hearing opened at 5:32 p.m. and closed with no one present who wished to speak.

On motion by Councilmember Nicholas, seconded by Councilmember Smalls, ORDINANCE NO. 1932, AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL, MD., TO AMEND TEH CITY OF LAUREL UNIFIED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE; CHAPTER 20, LAND DEVELOPMENT AND SUBDIVISION, TO ADD ARTICLE VIA "TELCOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES IN PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY", TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE LOCATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWERS, ANTENNAS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES WITHIN THE CITY'S PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY, CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.  Mayor Moe concurred with this action.



 
President Leszcz read the title of Resolution No. 5-18, a resolution creating an Education Advisory Committee, into the record for the second reading.  The public hearing was opened at 5:40 p.m. and closed with no one present who wished to speak. 
 
On motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember Nicholas, RESOLUTION NO. 5-18, A RESOLUTION CREATING AN EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, was adopted on a unanimous roll call vote.  Mayor Moe concurred with this action.
 

On motion by Councilmember Smalls, seconded by Councilmember Sydnor, the Mayor and City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 5:42 p.m. to consult with legal counsel.  The legal authority for this Closed Session is contained in the General Provisions Article Subsection 3-305 (b) (7).

 

The Mayor and all five councilmembers reconvened the regular meeting at 5:43 p.m. and then adjourned with no further business to be addressed.

 

 

 

Kimberley A. Rau, MMC
Clerk to the Council

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