Forum Recap: Candidates Debate at OPAC Forum

A crowd of citizens packed the council chambers at City Hall Thursday for the final public forum in advance of Tuesday’s municipal election.

The Ontario-Otsego Positive Action Committee—known as OPAC—hosted a forum in the warm, crowded chambers, which proved standing-room-only before the questions began.

Both mayoral candidates—Mayor and his lone challenger, Councilman —and four-of-six candidates for council—including incumbent Councilmen and , as well as challengers and —were in attendance.

Candidates were given time to introduce themselves before questions started.

Tom Fitzpatrick spoke on behalf of City Council candidate , who was unable to attend Thursday evening’s forum. Wagner’s mother passed away Thursday morning.

also didn’t attend.

Those in attendance were given the opportunity to write questions for moderator Dr. David Jaffe to read to candidates. The forum was limited to two hours—a welcome proposition to those in the crowd who were sweating by the end of the night.

Jaffe said the forum would have to move to a larger location next year, after having moved from the police station to City Hall last year.

At the end of the night, Jaffe recognized Police Chief Teresa Walter for her work in reducing crime—which was one of the main reasons the OPAC group formed. There were no police or crime-related questions at Thursday’s lineup—the latest in a line of forums that began in 2004.

The following is a summary of the forum: 

Candidates were asked to address economic development in the city’s downtown area:

Mayor Wayne Dougherty

• Said tourism and marketing are key
• Noted his administration has overseen aggressive action in improving streetscapes, including the five-points area at Rochambeau Plaza
• Said the city is embarking upon a façade program for the water plant on Main Street
• Said the city will maintain a close working relationship with Main Street and the Chamber of Commerce

Lori Maslin

• Said the city needs to facilitate an environment for businesses
• Said city can’t run businesses, but it can make it easier
• Said new business should be encouraged to come to town
• Suggested the public needs to be re-educated to come and shop downtown

Randy Craig

• Said the city government should facilitate by listening to business and land owners
• Said the city’s downtown area is bordered by three locations that need substantial improvements: David Craig Park, the former City Hall, and Hutchins Park.
• Said government can help sharpen the appearance and enhance the climate downtown

Diane Lawder

• Said the city needs to be maintained to be clean and attract people
• Said tourism isn’t an issue, but city needs to keep tourists here
• Said city should facilitate places for visitors to stay and attract new businesses

Mitch Shank

• Said the main key is the theater on St. John Street
• Said bringing motorcoach tours to town would bring tourists downtown

Candidates were asked how they envision development along Route 40:

Shank

• Shank said economic development manager Meghan Simmons should be promoted to a director
• Said city should concentrate on commercial and retail along Route 40, and seek business that compliments downtown, not competes with downtown

Lawder

• Said both “professional and business” development should be considered
• Said  professional opportunities should be explored to open job opportunities for residents

Craig

• Envisions retail business on Route 40
• Said its not the city’s job to run business but to provide the pre-requisites for business success
• Said the city can provide public safety and infrastructure for business growth

Maslin

• Said she doesn’t see a major difference between Route 40 and downtown
• Said just like downtown, Route 40 properties are privately owned.
• Said the city can encourage businesses and facilitate the desire to be in Havre de Grace

Dougherty

• Said if the city hears of interest from a business, Simmons makes contacts immediately
• Pointed out Verizon has opened a store at Route 40 and Otsego St.

Correri

• Said there needs to be a balance on Route 40.
• Said he wants quality retail, upgrades in retail on Route 40.
• Wants to incorporate the industrial area, bringing office jobs that have high salaries

Candidates for City Council were asked what the biggest challenge they would face if elected:

Correri

• Said passing the budget and reviewing the comprehensive plan

Maslin

• Said there are a lot of issues, but the city is like any business that needs to examine employees, costs and expenses
• Said the budget will be a focal point—namely cutting costs while keeping services

Craig

• Said the water and sewer fund is critical, but would also suspect capital projects would be important

Lawder

• Said the water & sewer fund and budget will be big, but she’d like to see less negativity on council with more compromise

Dougherty was asked how the budget could increase by 12 percent with a one-cent tax cut.

Dougherty

• Said the budget increased 7.1 percent, most of it in grants
• Said roughly $300,000 was a holdover from last year’s budget

Shank was asked how his proposed tax overlay for Bulle Rock is fair to the city’s residents.

Shank

• Said other residents’ rates would not go up.
• Said city residents outside of Bulle Rock get a tax differential on roads, but Bulle Rock does not.
• Said “its just a matter of equity.”

The challengers were asked why is this election important and why did you throw your hat into the ring?

Lawder

• Said she felt council needs a fresh perspective and she will be motivated and energetic

Maslin

• Said this election isn’t any more important than another.
• Said she has considered running for 5-6 years, and the city needs a woman’s perspective

All candidates were asked where plans to combat Lilly Run flooding stand and if enough is being done:

Correri

• Said the issue is in financing the project
• Said he’s seen some renderings for a potential pond between the high school and middle school, but would like to see the water corrected at the source

Dougherty

• Said its been studied for some time, that URS completed a study with recommendations
• Said the project is in a preliminary permit stage and the city is seeking funding

Maslin

• Said a plan is in place combining a variety of solutions
• Said a cohesive effort is needed from city, county, state and federal levels
• Said it is ultimately a funding issue

Craig

• Said it is a perennial issue with a detailed plan, but funding is going to be an issue
• Said city purchased property to begin diversion of Lilly Run

Lawder

• Said its been a long-term problem
• Said the city can be aggressive in cleaning up specific areas to help alleviate flooding during heavy rains
• Said her 7-year-old son enjoys the flooding because he gets the day off from Havre de Grace Elementary School

Shank

• Said its been a problem as long as he can recall
• Said he supported property purchase at Chesapeake Drive and Giles Street for diversion 

Shank was asked of his proposed tax cuts—where does he propose cuts?

Shank

• Said he’s proposed three cents further than the proposed one-cent cut and that Craig and Correri are open to seeing those suggestions.
• Shank said the city grew its employee base 20 percent since 2005, but he has planned no layoffs, only leaving open positions unfilled

The other candidates were asked if they would support a tax cut larger than one cent

Lawder

• Said she would support what has been proposed by the Mayor

Craig

• Said he’s unsure what Shank is referencing in terms to his openness to a four-cent cut
• Said the city should provide the best possible service at the lowest possible coset

Maslin

• Said she supports any tax cuts
• Is concerned that the city needs a budget and a tax rate before July 1

Dougherty

• Said he’d ultimately like the city to get down to a 55-cent tax rate, but it has to be done gradually

Correri

• Set a three-cent cut when he was mayor, but that he knew where it was coming from
• Said he’s willing to make cuts if the validity of the cuts can be proven

All candidates were asked if Havre de Grace needs to grow via annexation.

Correri

• Said a policy must be established on growth
• Would like to see the Route 40 boundary lines “cleaned up” with some infill annexation

Dougherty

• Said the city has to catch up with what it has in place and establish a growth plan.
• Said small pockets—including Shawnee Brook—need to be annexed in but the city is in no position to annex land for more development.

Maslin

• Said she’s a proponent of smart growth
• Said she thinks its odd that people are surrounded by voters but can’t vote

Craig

• Said he’d like the city to aggressively pursue infill annexation
• Said those citizens use city streets and go to city schools, but don’t contribute to the tax base

Lawder

• Said she is not supportive of new development

Shank

• Said 1,900 lots are available
• Said the city shouldn’t look to expand outward, but to infill

Lawder was asked about her Patch video, in which she said her primary goal was to protect city services and employees and if it was the most important thing to her campaign

Lawder

• Said its not the most pressing, that her platform was maintaining public safety

Shank was asked if other communities should be open to the same tax cut overlay that Bulle Rock would enjoy

Shank

• Said yes, if their streets are up to code 

Candidates were asked about the city’s loss of a downtown grocery store:

Correri

• Said he hopes the city can help usher in a new store downtown
• Said he supports the push for another store, particularly downtown

Dougherty

• Said he recalls the Sievers and Save-a-Lot as beneficial downtown businesses.
• Said two large supermarkets were looking at Route 40.
• Said a moderate-size market could supplement the downtown area

Maslin

• Said she would love to see a grocery store downtown
• Open to the idea of a specialty grocery store, a Trader Joes, or a co-op

Craig

• Said he would like to see a new grocery store downtown and on Route 40

Lawder

• Said Weis has held the city captive and its expensive, and the city needs competition

Shank

• Said he is in support of a downtown grocery store
• Said the idea of a co-op should be considered and a group of citizens should look into starting one 

Dougherty was asked why city salaries are kept secret

Dougherty

• Said the information is available and that the city would “gladly supply it. We’ve never refused anybody.”

Candidates were asked how they’d solve parking downtown

Shank

• Acknowledged there is a parking problem, and took issue with the timing of the parking study.
• Said he thinks signage and purchasing property behind the 200 block of Washington Street are two good solutions

Lawder

• Said the move from two- to three-hour parking will help.
• Said police will have an easier time enforcing the law since the council recently adjusted ticking so

Craig

• Said he is disappointed the study didn’t involve the city’s busiest hours

Maslin

• Said she lives on the downtown district, but doesn’t know if there is a parking issue.
• Said there is a parking issue in the evenings and on the weekend.
• Said she won’t call it a parking “problem,” as businesses and the city should be happy that the parking spots are filled
• Said she wants to see more encouragement for visitors and citizens to park and walk, and would like to see improved parking enforcement

Dougherty

• Said the parking study gave the city a lot of information, but left some to be desired
• Said the city has increased time limits to three hours and is putting up signage to redirect travelers to more parking
• Wants to see improved striping in the 500 block of Pennington Ave. and said there is a lot more left to be done

Correri

• Said signage is the primary issue
• Said the city has addressed parking for motorcycles and will continue to push further into the study

New candidates were asked how they would enforce ordinances to make sure owners comply with codes

Lawder

• Said she would make landlords and tenants responsible for keeping properties clean
• Said well-maintained properties will attract people to town

Maslin

• Said there is a code enforcement issue
• Said there is a difference between minor problems and public safety problems

Craig

• Said one position that was proposed by Shank to be cut from the budget was a vacant position for an inspector

Shank

• Said the problem he sees is why haven’t issues been taken care of already?
• Said filling the vacant inspector position doesn’t automatically solve the problem

Dougherty

• Said codes are being enforced, but that the city is hit inundated a lot of violations
• Said the city needs the inspector position filled, that some employees are cross-trained to do other jobs aside from inspection

Correri

• Said the city needs to make a solid effort to remain vigilant

Candidates were asked to address how they would avoid the forced demolition of buildings in town by neglect from property owners

Correri

• Said the key is to put resources on the job and in the field
• Said staff needs to monitor properties and he hopes they are

Dougherty

• Said it would be a shame that things got to that point
• Said the city needs to stay on top of those whose properties show exterior neglect

Maslin

• Said its an issue of where resources are allocated
• Said there are some absentee owners in Havre de Grace

Craig

• Said such neglect is a weapon against historic preservation
• Said city should work with historic preservation commission to maintain key buildings

Lawder

• Said the inside of a structure can’t always be judged by the outer appearance
• Said sometimes structures should be demolished if they’re unsafe, but residents need to be held accountable if violating codes

Shank

• Said the city should be more aggressive before problems exist, as well as in its enforcement of codes

Candidates were asked if the city should have design standards for historic preservation

Shank

• Said he supports the idea of design standards
• Said it is critical and should be a priority because history makes Havre de Grace what it is

Lawder

• Said she supports keeping historic Havre de Grace historic
• Said it is important those homes are maintained so they have a vibrant appearance

Craig

• Said design standards should be used for historical purposes and other purposes
• Said the CVS on Route 40, for example, sits below road level and motorists see the roof.

Maslin

• Said there is a difference between design standards and telling people what they can or can’t do with property based upon aesthetics
• Said design standards should be in place for health, safety and welfare of community, not for aesthetics

Dougherty

• Said zoning laws are outdated
• Said design standards may not happen overnight, that they may take years

Correri

• Said the situation is tricky, and direction is needed
• Said the city must “dance with what brought you,” in Havre de Grace’s case, its history

Shank was asked about whether he saw himself as a legislator or a leader

Shank

• Said he’s worked with people who have had a dream and a vision
• Said he plans to build bridges outside Havre de Grace

Dougherty was asked how negative comments on Patch can effect the election

Dougherty

• Said he does not deal with the negatives because it takes too much energy

Shank and Dougherty were asked how to increase the number of voters

Shank

• Said opening a second poling place at SHCO House 5 on Chapel Road would help

Dougherty

• Said voter registration and inspiring citizens to vote are key
• Said a second poling place would be expensive

All candidates were asked about the shortage of playing field and indoor recreation space in Havre de Grace

Correri

• Said he supports parks and rec initiatives and think the city should look on its perimeters for more property

Dougherty

• Said Lagaret Lane near the Vulcan Materials’ quarry would have sufficient space

Maslin

• Said city can work with county, that parks and rec is a county service
• Suggested Lagaret Lane would work to boost available fields

Craig

• Said relationships with the county are critical
• Said the turf field at Harris Stadium has enabled more games to be played
• Said he would like to see a better relationship with the school board

Lawder

• Said the fields on Chapel Road represent progress
• Said she would like to see more kid-friendly areas and safer fields

Shank

• Said Todd Field and the JL Clark property in the industrial park represent potential places where the city can “think outside the box.”

Candidates were asked to explain a concrete solution to the water and sewer fund

Shank

• Expressed concern over distributed expenses, the utilization of funds from the water and sewer fund to be used in the general fund
• Said he doesn’t believe the city can maintain water and sewer services much longer, suggesting the city can combine with Aberdeen, Bel Air and Harford County to create a regional water authority

Lawder

• Said she is not too familiar with the fund because she’s not currently on council
• Said she’s looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the table

Craig

• Said the long-term for the city is building key partnerships

Maslin

• Said she wants to make sure what is being tied to enterprise funds are actual costs

Dougherty

• Said the city is working off a hit from the $43 million ENR upgrade
• Said the city is trying to work off anticipated, but unpredictable, income

Correri

• Said reviewing capital cost fees and supporting the Mayor’s stimulus proposal is a good start
• Said the key is to get some housing started

Incumbents were asked what they would do better if re-elected

Correri

• Said he has been re-energized by the opportunity to return
• Admitted he’s technically-challenged and he tries to keep learning

Dougherty

• Said the city has many capital projects complete, would like to continue those and the grant money the city has obtained.
• Said he plans to keep working hard on the water and sewer fund

Craig

• Said working cooperatively is a daily process
• Said council must listen to one another and get past current issues

All candidates were asked if citizens should vote for or against the bond issue on Tuesday’s ballot

Shank

• Said he’s very concerned and considering not voting for it
• Said the city can only refinance the bond one time and he’s not sure this is the right time

Lawder

• Said she can’t speak to the issue as she’s not sure

Craig

• Said he supports it and it should be passed because it saves taxpayers money
• Said this is the best time to get the lowest rate

Maslin

• Said it’s like refinancing your home
• Said you can’t take the risk that the interest rates will get better or operate in fear

Dougherty

• Said the refinance would create a net savings of $187,000 to the city

Correri

• Said, simply: “Support it! It saves you money!”

Lawder was asked why she was unable to respond to the question on water and sewer, as she has stated her husband works at the water plant.

Lawder

• Said she admittedly isn’t coming to council with all the knowledge, but is looking to bring a new, fresh perspective. Said she’d prefer to be unbiased.
• Said her husband doesn’t discuss the water and sewer fund over dinner

All candidates were asked about the bland entrances to town and how they envision the city’s gateways being improved

Correri

• Said the city has been meeting on the topic already
• Said drawings, particularly passing under the Route 40 bridge on Rt. 155, would improve the look coming into town

Dougherty

• Credited the economic development and marketing departments for their efforts
• Said he’s in full support of such projects, and one proposal has been submitted

Maslin

• Said she’s always in support of making the city more attractive

Craig

• Said he supports any efforts to make the projects happen

Lawder

• Said she supports anything to make the city more welcoming

Shank

• Would like to see illuminated trees at the entrance points, similar to those along Washington Street during the winter holidays

All candidates were asked what one thing could be done to improve communications

Shank

• Would like to see e-mail alerts on emergencies, events and meetings

Lawder

• Would like to see the website upgraded to be more user-friendly

Craig

• Said the city’s website is “pitiful” and is in support of new servers in the budget to upgrade the site
• Would like to see billpaying and access to more information on the site

Maslin

• Would like to see the website provide more than just the title of an ordinance or item on the city council meeting agenda

Dougherty

• Said he’s a proponent of the Connect-CTY notification system
• Said the website leaves a lot to be desired, but servers are in the budget

Correri

• Said website is the key, but he’d like to see things simplified for less-savvy computer users, such as himself

Other concerns, according to Dr. Jaffe, included more handicap parking, a teen center, and education. He asked candidates to reveal something about their character

Shank

• Said he is a collector of various items, and that he said ties to the past enable he and his family to share memories

Lawder

• Said her integrity is the most important thing she has

Craig

• Said you often get sick of yourself while campaigning
• Said he wants his children to want to live here

Maslin

• Said she’s brutally honest, a thinker, studier and reader, and calls things as she sees them

Dougherty

• Said integrity, ethics and honesty are his key traits

Correri

• Said he’s a hockey fan, a former high school football coach, and someone who relies upon honesty

In closing, candidates were asked where they see Havre de Grace in 2021, ten years from now.

Correri

• Said—drawing a lengthy laughter from the crowd—“I sure hope I’m not looking up!”
• Said he hopes Lilly Run has been solved

Dougherty

• Said—drawing laughter—I hjust hope I remember where I live

Maslin

• Said she will be 59 and hopes to see more businesss, happy people, more tourism and more events
• Said she’d like to see the community that’s here still participating

Craig

• Said his oldest daughter will be graduating high school in 2021 and he hopes it will be in a new Havre de Grace High School

Lawder

• Said she hopes the business district will be thriving with new business, and the city has just as many—if not more—volunteers and volunteer groups

Shank

• Would like to see the trail completed from Swan Harbor Farm to the Conowingo Dam, an expanded Decoy Museum, a hotel/spa facility, and other projects to make the city a destination