Twenty-Second Meeting of the Mayor and City Council - Special - Monday, December 21, 2020 - 6:00 p.m. Zoom

Present: Craig A. Moe, Mayor; Valerie M A Nicholas, Council President; Michael R. Leszcz, Councilmember; Keith R. Sydnor, Councilmember; Carl DeWalt, Councilmember; Brencis Smith, Councilmember; William Goddard, City Administrator; LouAnn Crook, MMC, Deputy City Administrator; Sara Green, CMC, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Kevin Frost, Director of Information Technology; S. Michele Saylor, Director of Budget and Personnel Services; Audrey Barnes, Director of Communications; Chief Russel Hamill, Police Department; Steve Allen, Fire Marshal; Brian Lee, Director of Public Works; Joanne Barr, Director of Parks and Recreation; Larry Taub, City Solicitor and Kimberley Rau, MMC, Clerk.

1. Call to order

A. Call to order - Council President Valerie M.A. Nicholas

B. Roll call - Clerk Kimberley A. Rau, MMC

2. Legislation

A. Introduction and first public hearing on Resolution No. 19-20, a resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland approving and authorizing the purchase of the Laurel Racquet and Health Club, Inc., for the purpose of acquiring the real property and improvements owned by said corporation for public purposes.

President Nicholas read the title of Resolution No. 19-20, a resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland approving and authorizing the purchase of the Laurel Racquet and Health Club, Inc., for the purpose of acquiring the real property and improvements owned by said corporation for public purposes, into the record for the first reading.

President Nicholas opened the public hearing at 6:38 p.m.

Michael Schaffer, Executive Director of New Day, expressed his excitement about this project.

Donald Whitehead, Chairman of the Laurel Task Force on Homelessness, said he is 100% in support of the effort to purchase this property. Saying that Winter is coming and there is no Winter Haven Program this year. There is a true need in the community.

President Nicholas closed the public hearing at 6:42 p.m.

On motion by Councilmember Leszcz, seconded by Councilmember Smith, the Council Rules were Suspended.

On motion by Councilmember Leszcz, seconded by Councilmember DeWalt, RESOLUTION NO. 19-20, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL, MARYLAND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF THE LAUREL RACQUET AND HEALTH CLUB, INC., FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING THE REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS OWNED BY SAID CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES, was approved on a unanimous roll call vote. Mayor Moe concurred with this action.

3. Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Council the meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.

Kimberley A. Rau, MMC

Clerk to the Council

Approved: January 25, 2021