Osman, Budzynski Presented Keys To The City

Havre de Grace City Council honored four students and a former teacher in a 101-minute meeting Tuesday night at .

teacher was presented a key to the city. So, too, was activist Quynh Budzynski.

Mayor Wayne Dougherty delivered a statement on the city’s second quarter finances. Police Chief Teresa Walter revealed a 34-percent crime reduction in the second half of 2011 as compared to the second half of 2010. Director of Public Works Larry Parks said the dredging at Tydings Park is scheduled to be done by Friday.

In another highlight Monday, Mayor Dougherty’s nephew returned from Afghanistan and surprised the Mayor in the council chambers.

The next meeting is Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.

Below is a recap of the entire meeting as it happened:
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8:41 p.m.: The meeting adjourns.

8:40 p.m.: Martin notes the next City Council meeting will fall on Tuesday, Feb. 21, as the third Monday of February is Presidents Day.

8:37 p.m.: After being introduced by Mayor Dougherty, an ammendment to the Mardi Gras event is unanimously approved by City Council.

Upon request by Ron Browning, the Mardi Gras parade will be extended from Rochambeau Plaza to the American Legion, essentially the reverse route of the Christmas Parade.

The request also included the use of the public parking lot from the American Legion to for parade participants to disaassemble floats.

The parade is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 21.

8:30 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty reads the second quarter financial statement.

Patch will have the full financials in a later post.

Of note, the city's "storm readiness, evacuation, cleanup and repairs" due from the storms and flooding in August and September cost $110,000 more than anticipated for the quarter.

The city qualified for funding for the dredging project at the Yacht Basin, meaning Havre de Grace will bre responsible for just 25 percent of dredging costs.

8:19 p.m.: Council President Bill Martin notes that a public work session will be held at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13 to discuss a personal property tax relief proposal by Mayor Dougherty.

Martin also added that there were two carbon monoxide incidents last weekend.

Martin mentions that Patch will host a live Q&A with an MdTA official Feb. 13 for residents to ask questions about the changes at the Hatem Bridge toll facility.

8:16 p.m.: Councilman Jim Miller is wearing a "Team Tourism" pin in support of a hotel tax for Harford County. Miller notes that Harford County is the only one in the state that cannot collect taxes on hotel room rentals.

Miller notes that Curtis Coon was selected the chairman of the planning and zoning commission last week.

8:15 p.m.: Councilman John Correri gives a shout-out to his wife, who "said yes" to him 29 years ago this Friday.

8:14 p.m.: Councilwoman Barbara Wagner reminded residents that for Hatem Bridge.

8:09 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum recapped some of the info from the .

8:06 p.m.: Police Chief said the city saw a 34-percent reduction in crime in the second half of 2011 over the second half of 2010. She said there was also a dip of 9.3 percent reduction in crime from the first half in 2011 to the second half in 2011.

Mayor Dougherty congratulated Walter and her entire department.

Walter also noted that a prescription drug take-back day will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on April 28.

8:05 p.m.: Larry Parks, director of the department of public works, said the will be cleared of all sediment by Friday, despite the presence of more sediment in the channel than originally believed. last month.

8:04 p.m.: Neal Mills, director of planning, notes that the Maryland Department of Environment has posted on its website information on the Maryland Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan. The plan would call for reduced nutrients in the bay.

MDE is accepting public comments through March 9. Public hearings are scheduled, as well.

8:02 p.m.: Period for public comment on agenda items passes without any comment.

8 p.m.: Three women were unanimously appointed to positions on boards and commissions with the city.

Annette White (Street and Traffic Safety Advisory Board), Heather Lindsay (Historic Preservation Commission) and Susan Wettig (Marina Commission) were appointed.

7:54 p.m.: The Havre de Grace Dance Team was not in attendance Monday, but James Spielman, returning from Afghanistan, was on hand.

Spielman, of the Air Force, presented a suprised and emotional Mayor Dougherty with two flags.

7:46 p.m.: Bethany Barker, of Arizona, has been named the executive director of the .

"She brings a great background and enthusiasm to the Concord Point Lighthouse," said Jim Dryden of the Concord Point Lighthouse board.

Barker said a number of events will be held in the coming year to commemorate the War of 1812.

The Lighthouse opens April 1 with new exhibits.

7:43 p.m.: Dougherty presents Don Osman with a proclamation after Osman was inducted into the Harford County Public Schools Educator Hall of Fame last month.

Osman is presented with a key to the city.

A large majority of Monday's audience was on hand to support Osman, who was given a standing ovation.

7:34 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty presents a proclamation to Quynh Budzynski, of the Harford County Boys and Girls Club.

Budzynski, who volunteers with the “Back a Kid Campaign,” is presented with a key to the City of Havre de Grace.

Jonathan Carter of the Boys & Girls Clubs said, “We couldn’t do it without you and all of our fantastic volunteers.”

Budzynski is helping with Bourbon and Beer, an event on Feb. 24 from 6-10 p.m. at Le Banque de Fleuve.

7:28 p.m.: Lori Maslin is recognized with a Mid-Atlantic Region Special Recognition.

Maslin and her husband operate the .

7:24 p.m.: Adam Rybczynski, an intern with City Hall and a contributor to Patch, is honored with a "Did You Know Award."

Adam is credited with contributing to the city's new website and leading the effort to have the site done on time and on budget.

Adam, a student at Towson University, was unable to attend Monday.

7:18 p.m.: Anthony Alvarez, of , is honored with a student of the month recognition.

Anthony plays lacrosse and soccer and is also a member of S.M.I.L.E.S. and mock trial. Anthony is an accomplished writer, garnering acclaim from Harford County in a recent writing competition.

7:15 p.m.: Sha'Rena Miller, of , is honored with a student of the month recognition.

Sha'Rena, joined by her mother, is a member of the at the school and an artist who loves drawing.

7:12 p.m.: Fourth grader Leigha MacBurney of is honored with a student of the month recognition.

Leigha is a member of the band at .

Leigha reads a list of thank yous to members of the school community before finishing with a thank you to her parents, who are in attendance, along with Leigha's younger sister.

7:10 p.m.: City Council and Mayor begin a series of recognitions.

Connor Davis, of , is honored with a student of the month recognition. Connor, a soccer player, thanked his teachers, parents, family and friends. His parents and brother joined him on the floor at City Hall.

7:03 p.m.: Pastor Norman Obenshain of Havre de Grace United Methodist Church delivers the opening prayer.

7:00 p.m.: The meeting begins with all members of City Council present.

6:45 p.m.: Welcome to our City Council live blog, where we will be updating the news coming from City Hall at it happens.

Check back regularly. We will be adding nuggets of news immediately. Feel free to email sean.welsh@patch.com with any questions.

Check out our council meeting preview, which includes a PDF file of the agenda.