Live Blog: May 2 City Council Meeting

9:25 p.m.: Meeting adjourns.

9:20 p.m.: Council President Bill Martin suggests the city look into how the council chambers are air conditioned. Overbearing warmth was an issue for attendees Monday, after it was a conversation topic at Thursday's OPAC debate.

9:17 p.m.: As requested by Rod Gaston, the Mayor states the current tax rate is 60 cents, proposed ordinance would set the rate at 59 cents, and a public hearing is set for May 9 at 6 p.m.

9:14 p.m.: Citizen Hollee Sifford, an employee at Havre de Grace High School, said she is very thankful to Mayor Dougherty and Councilman Craig for having a pedestrian stop sign placed in the crosswalk on Congress Avenue between the two buildings of Havre de Grace High School.

9:04 p.m.: Councilman Randy Craig said there was a serious leak in the Havre de Grace High School's HVAC system above the auditorium during Sunday's dance recital. Craig said the incident is a perfect example of why Harford County should consider a replacement of Havre de Grace High School.

9 p.m.: Council members Cullum and Miller wished good luck to those candidates up for election Tuesday.

8:50 p.m.: Motion carries, 4-2. Public hearing is set for Monday, May 9 at 6 p.m. to discuss tax rate.

8:48 p.m.: Councilman Cullum said the City Council vowed to return the 10 cents it raised the taxes in 2003, and that the Council has returned 12 cents in tax cuts since 2003.

8:42 p.m.: Council President Martin said he was unprepared to vote on approximately $1 million in cuts tonight, and questioned Councilman Miller as to why it was reported in Patch that Miller had hundreds of thousands of dollars in cuts in mind May 28. Martin said there was no communication of those figures from Miller until they were presented during Monday's meeting.

8:38 p.m.: Councilman Miller makes mention that Councilman Correri, Councilman Cullum and Mayor Dougherty voted for a 10-cent hike in 2003.

8:35 p.m.: Councilman Craig cited the need for two police positions and adjustments to the city employee's pension system as key points for voting against the amendment.

8:35 p.m.: The motion for amendment by Councilman Miller was rejected by a 4-2 vote. Miller and Shank voted for the 56-cent tax rate.

8:30 p.m.: Among various budget cuts, Councilman Miller proposes the city leaves open five positions within the city workforce. Those positions, according to a sheet Miller produced, are estimated at a net of $299,200 against the budget.

Those positions:

• $93,700 for police officer
• $83,100 for police officer
• $84,600 for inspector
• $20,100 for tourism employee
• $17,700 for part-time parking enforcement

Other cuts Miller proposed:

• $38,000 for auxiliary police
• $76,500 for an increase in employee healthcare 5 percent
• $28,400 for an increase in employee retirement 1 percent (not including police)
• $40,000 to defer half the proposed server replacement
• $50,000 for reducing contractual service for the Department of Public Works
• $35,000 for arrow boards
• $6,200 for electric door openers
• $19,300 for shop HVAC
• $8,300 for a shop fuel oil tank removal
• $300,000 to defer half of Lewis Lane capital project
• $30,000 for Lewis Lane bridge
• $187,000 for general fund debt service

8:25 p.m.: Councilman Jim Miller moves to introduce an amendment to the proposed tax rate. Miller and Councilman Mitch Shank would like to lower the rate to 56 cents.

One cent on the tax rate equates to $137,600. Miller said $412,800 would have to be cut from the budget to reach the 56-cent tax rate.

8:24 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum moved to re-introduce Ordinance No. 928, in reference to tax rates. Motion carried, 6-0.

8:23 p.m.: Council votes unanimously to suspended the 45-day grace period for Ordinance No. 927. The ordinance will go into effect immediately.

8:22 p.m.: Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 927 passes, 5-1, with Craig as the only "no" vote.

8:19 p.m.: Councilman Mitch Shank applauded the council and Mayor, and said the only change he would make would be that payments should be allowed to be made at settlement. Shank said his thoughts on the ordinance came after 

8:19 p.m.: Councilman Jim Miller said this ordinance is a start, but the true issue lies in the actual fees themselves.

8:17 p.m.: Councilman Craig said he will vote against the ordinance again, because he feels it is a risky move for the city to make. Craig applauded his felllow council member's efforts, and said the city already took a financial risk in building a multi-million-dollar upgrade to the wastewater facility.

8:14 p.m.: Ordinance No. 927 is introduced for comment and questions.

The title of Ordinance No. 927, according to the council meeting agenda, reads as follows:

AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF HAVRE DE GRACE, MARYLAND PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER SECTION 34, CITY CODE CHAPTER 196, AND ARTICLE 23A OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND MODIFYING THE SCHEDULE FOR THE PAYMENT OF CAPITAL COST RECOVERY CHARGES.

8:13 p.m.: Resolution 2011-03 passes, 6-0.

Mayor Dougherty said to the citizens of The Paddocks in attendance: "Perseverance pays off."

8:11 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum notes that The Paddocks roads are in the midst of being retrofitted to county and city standards. He notes that The Paddocks is separate from the gated neighborhood of Bulle Rock—which does not have roads up to city and county standards.

8:09 p.m.: Councilman Randy Craig said the real value to the City of Havre de Grace in accepting The Paddocks' roads into the city's oversight is gaining the full attention and service of the residences of the neighborhood.

8:08 p.m.: Council President Bill Martin moves to introduce Resolution 2011-03. 

The title of the resolution, as provided on the council meeting agenda, reads as follows:

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAVRE DE GRACE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS AND COMPLETE THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS TO PROCEED WITH THE CONVERSION OF THE PRIVATE STREETS AND STORM DRAINS IN THE PADDOCKS COMMUNITY TO PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ACCEPT THEIR TRANSFER TO THE CITY OF HAVRE DE GRACE.

8:07 p.m.: Ms. Carole Andrews was reappointed to the tree commission, confirmed by a unanimous vote.

8:02 p.m.: Ron Browning, Chairman of Havre de Grace Historic Preservation Commission, presents the Historic Preservation Awards for 2011.

Images and details of this year's three recipients can be found .

7:57 p.m.: Patrick Sypolt of the City of Havre de Grace unveils a presentation from the Havre de Grace Tree Commission.

The City has three trees—a Franklinia Tree, a Kentucky Coffeetree and a Black Cherry Tree—that were recognized as Harford County champions.  The Black Cherry Tree is among the largest in the nation.

The tree commission will meet May 9 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall conference room. Those interested in participating should contact Joe Conaway at joec@havredegracemd.com

7:53 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty and the City Council proclaim the first week of May as Youth Week in the City of Havre de Grace.

Members of Havre de Grace Elks Lodge 1564 were in attendance to accept the proclamation. The Elks have set aside the first week of May as National Youth Week.

7:47 p.m.: Mayor Wayne Dougherty and the City Council proclaim the week of  May 15-22 as Emergency Medical Services Week in the City of Havre de Grace.

Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps Chief Jeremy Mothershed accepted the proclamation. 

7:42 p.m.: Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps EMT Christopher Parker was recognized as the EMS Person of the Month for March and April. Parker joined the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps last year and was recognized as the Corps’ Rookie of the Year at March’s banquet. 

7:37 p.m.: Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps EMT Marc Butt was recognized as the EMS Person of the Month for March and April. He achieved more than 318 man hours and responded to 36 calls in that period.

7:29 p.m.: Havre de Grace Middle School sixth grader Natalie Gorham is recognized as the school's student of the month.

Natalie is a straight-A student recognized for her willingness to help other students. Natalie was a presidential award winner at Meadowvale as a fifth grader.

7:25 p.m.: Meadowvale Elementary School fifth grader Jarod French is recognized as the school's student of the month. 

Jarod is a member of the school's gifted and talented programs in both reading and math. He's a member of the school's chess club and plays the saxophone in band. He plays soccer and tennis, and is also a Cub Scout.

7:21 p.m.: Public hearing closes and council meeting begins.

7:17 p.m.: Public hearing on Ordinance No. 929 opens.

Citizen Curtis Coon asks for clarification on how the refinancing of bonds will alter the city's long-term and short-term payments.

City Director of Finance George DeHority responds by saying there is no need for the city to put forth any money in the short term to refinance the bonds in Ordinances 929 or 930.

7:15 p.m.: Public hearing on Ordinance No. 928 closes without any public comment.

Ordinance No. 928 concerns the tax rate for the fiscal year July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessable real property, personal property, and providing an additional special tax levied within the critical area special taxing district and setting the service charge for the semi-annual property tax payment option.

7:12 p.m.: Rod Gaston, president of The Paddocks homeowners association, said: “We are all very thankful for the effort that the City Council and the Mayor and city attorney has spent over the last 16 months. Some of the members in the HOA were advised about this six months ago but we started this a long time ago. Although street dedication isn’t a new issue, it is a new issue for the city.”

Gaston opened his remarks by asking for the audience's recognition of Col. Costigan for his service, as well as the service of his son, who is preparing to deploy overseas to serve in the armed services.

7:08 p.m.: Col. Jim Costigan, a veteran of 27 years in the Army, said he's moved 16 times and was never received as smoothly as he was when he moved to The Paddocks.

7:04 p.m.: Resident Jim Barry, who lives in the Paddocks, spoke in support of Resolution 2011-03.

Barry said the efforts that have led to this resolution have taken over 16 months, and included a number of residents, committees and city employees.

7:02 p.m.: Resident Phil Hutson, of The Paddocks, spoke on behalf of his neighbors in reference to Resolution 2011-03.

"This community will continue to contribute to the economic development and the quality of living in the City of Havre de Grace for years to come," Hutson said.

Hutson said the city will benefit from the maintained roads that make up The Paddocks, a neighborhood of 71 single-family residences along Bulle Rock Parkway.

Hutson said roughly $150,000 in taxes from The Paddocks go directly to the City of Havre de Grace each year.

7:00 p.m.: Public hearing begins on the transfer of the roadways of The Paddocks from a home owners' association to the Cit of Havre de Grace.

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 instantaneously. Feel free to email sean.welsh@patch.com with any questions. For our council meeting preview, including a PDF file of the agenda, click .