LIVE BLOG: Oct. 17 City Council Meeting

10:06 p.m.: The meeting is adjourned.

10:04 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty reveals a pedestrian crossing signal at Lewis Lane and Pulaski Highway is in the works. He said as part of the process, the city will work to have left turn lanes with signals installed along Lewis Lane.

9:45 p.m.: Councilman Miller raised a few concerns during his address.

Miller would like to see the critical area maps revisited, as many parcels in the city should not fall within the critical areas in the city.

Miller would also like to see the utilized at the wastewater treatment plant used at Cedar Hill Cemetery to clear thick brush so archeologists can survey the area.

9:40 p.m.: Councilman John Correri delivers two heartfelt messages: announcing the passing of former City Councilman Emerson Craig—the grandfather of current Councilman Randolph Emerson Craig—and resident and volunteer Norma Rice.

9:30 p.m.: Councilwoman Wagner provided an explanation as to why the resolution she was to present was pulled during the meeting Monday.

Wagner said the language of the resolution was to create a green team of nine individuals—three citizens, three council members and three staff members.

Wagner said 15 Maryland municipalities have registered under a sustainability program, but none of them has achieved certification thus far.

"We could still be first," she said.

9:20 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty delivers an address on the financial status of the city. Check back with Patch for the entirety of that address.

9:10 p.m.: Police Chief Teresa Walter reminds residents that the Halloween parade will be held Oct. 30, and trick-or-treat will be held on Halloween from 6-8 p.m.

9:08 p.m.: Director of Public Works Larry Parks said the installation of the Lewis Lane water line is complete. Some paving remains on Lewis Lane at Route 40. The paving should be done in the next week, weather pending, Parks said. The city will utilize Connect-CTY to notify the public of the updated paving schedule.

9:07 p.m.: Planning Director Neal Mills said 19 housing permits were filed from July 1 through Sept. 30. Of those, 10 single family dwellings and three townhomes were permitted in . Six townhomes were permitted in Greenway Farms.

Of the applicants, 18 took advantage of the capital cost stimulus plan.

9:06 p.m.: Council votes unanimously in favor of the planning committee's recommendation to allow the installation of a paved parking area in the city right-of-way at 309 N. Union Avenue.

9:05 p.m.: Council votes unanimously in favor of the planning committee's recommendation to allow the installation of a fence in the city right-of-way at 101 N. Union Avenue.

9:02 p.m.: Council votes 5-0 in favor of the the planning committee's reocmmendation to allow the installation of a fence and the removal of hedges in a city right-of-way between 261 and 253 Alliance Street. Councilman Miller recuses himself from voting as he is related to the applicant.

8:59 p.m.: Council votes 4-2 in favor of the planning committee's recommendation to disallow the installation of two free-standing signs at 419 Congress Avenue. Councilman Craig and Council President Martin voted against.

8:55 p.m.: Council votes 4-2 in favor of the planning commitee's recommendation to disallow the installation of a gravel drive at 419 Congress Avenue. Councilman Craig and Council President Martin voted against.

Property owner Robert Gross, in attendance, said he would be willing to use pavers, rather than stone. His wish is to create an impervious drive to allow rain water to soak into the ground along Lodge Lane.

8:45 p.m.: Council votes 5-1 in favor of the planning commission's recommendation on the installation of a fence in the right of way at 226 S. Stokes Street. Councilman Craig voted against.

8:40 p.m.: Council moves on to a series of six recommendations from the planning committe.

8:35 p.m.: Council votes in favor of the event, 5-1. Councilman Miller voted against the event.

8:33 p.m.: In answering a question posed by Council President Martin, Seafood Festival organizer Lori Maslin says that no members of city staff and no elected officials were gifted tickets for the Charlie Daniels Band concert.

Martin alluded to "rumors" that stemmed from a comment—since removed—by a Patch reader.

Maslin said: “That’s the interesting thing about blogs and rumor. They are very rarely based in fact. If anyone picked up the phone, called and asked, they would have gotten the same answer. Every one of those seats were paid for, and they were paid for by the people sitting on them. Mrs. Wagner paid for them with a check. You [Council President Martin] purchased them as a gift for your wife. There are several of city employees in this room tonight and those sitting on the dais who paid cash or wrote a check. I’m not in the business of giving away tickets. This business person needs to make money to put this event on. ... This was not free. We wrote a check. My reputation and my finances are put on the line every year. No tickets were given to you, the mayor or anyone on that dais.”

8:30 p.m.: There is one special event on Monday's agenda:

32nd Annual Seafood Festival; Event will be August 10th-12th 2012; set up will begin August 7, 2012

8:28 p.m.: Councilwoman Barbara Wagner has decided to table the proposed resolution concerning sustainability.

8:26 p.m.: The resolution passes, 6-0, despite some questions by council members Miller and Craig.

Miller would like the council to have more dialogue on such projects in advance of their introductions. Craig has concerns about the gateway project, in particular, the resurfacing of a lighly-used sidewalk under the Hatem Bridge overpass.

8:25 p.m.: Council introduces and is discussing Resolution 2011-17:

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF HAVRE DE GRACE, MARYLAND IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION TO THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION AND RECEIPTOF FINANCING FOR COMMUNITY LEGACY PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF HAVRE DE GRACE, MARYLAND. THIS RESOLUTION SUPPORTS THE REQUEST FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF MD155/HATEM BRIDGE GATEWAY, PHASE II OF THE EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, HAVRE DE GRACE MAIN STREET, INC. TENANT FIT-OUT PROGRAM. ALL PROJECTS ARE TO BE FINANCED EITHER DIRECTLY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND OR THROUGH OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES OF THE SATE OF MARYLAND.

8:22 p.m.: The meeting resumes.

8:11 p.m.: Council President Bill Martin requests a five minute recesss.

8:10 p.m.: In public comment, resident spoke in favor of the sustainability initiatives on the agenda. But first he added that he appreciated the efforts of SImmons and Troy in the projects proposed Monday.

"I think all three of them are very worthy projects for us and I think they’re all going to be great enhancements for the city," Fitzpatrick said.

Norman Obenshein, pastor of the Havre de Grace United Methodist Church on Union Avenue, spoke in favor of a planning commission recommendation on Monday's agenda. Obenshein resides at the address in question, which is requesting the installation of a fence in a city right of way.

"I want to urge the adoption of that particular recommendation. Not only will that allow us to control our dog, but it will enhance the landscape of our beautiful city," Obenshein said.

8:05 p.m.: The reappointments of Will Nori, Bridgette Johnson, Charles Vasilakis, Pamela Ruff, Chip Paradis, Cathy Vincenti and Kelly Falkenstine are unanimously approved as members of the economic development advisory board.

Garrett Lyttle is unanimously reappointed to the RAD Loan committee.

All terms will be three years.

8 p.m.: Troy, in response to a series of questions from City Councilman Randy Craig, said Phase III of the gateway project would cost approximately $280,000. It would involve a number of environmental hurdles.

7:50 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum thanked Simmons for her efforts on the projects.

In particular, he agrees that something must be done about the Route 155-to-Juniata Street entrance into the city, and credits Simmons for getting the State Highway Administration to work with the city. He also pointed out that Simmons and the State Highway Administration have worked on new signage to get visitors into the city's downtown district.

7:45 p.m.: Simmons introduces the Main Street Tenant Fit Out program, which would address aging infrastructure.

Simmons said $20,000 has been requested in the grant project, which would be administered by Main Street and the Economic Development Office.

Upon question from Councilman Miller, Simmons said the program would cover those commercial properties within the Main Street District.

7:40 p.m.: Simmons unveils another project: Phase II of improvements to the .

The improvements include the installation of new "anti-climb" fencing, which would be covered in vines to create a "living fence," complete with low-maintenance ornamental plants.

Phase I of the project was the streetscape improvements along St. John Street.

7:32 p.m.: Meghan Simmons, manager of economic development for the City of Havre de Grace, begins a presentation on the city's Community Legacy Grant Project.

Simmons introduced new economic development employee Adrean Troy, who has helped with the project.

The MD Route 155/763 and Hatem Bridge Gateway project addresses enhancements to the entrance to the city. The project's first two phases would require $60,000 in grant funds.

Phase I entails the painting of Hatem Bridge. Phase II is landscaping improvements and the creation of a pocket park on the slope leading up to Route 40 on the right of MD Route 155 when descending into Havre de Grace.

Phase III—which will not factor into this year's grant request—involves road resurfacing, decorative paving and resurfacing.

7:30 p.m.: Councilman Randy Craig asks about the infrastructure in the light of the flooding event. Hartley said some upgrades were required and they were carried out.

Mayor Wayne Dougherty thanked Hartley and Johansen for their presentation and efforts, and said, "I've had nothing but praise and comments."

7:25 p.m.: Councilman Jim Miller asks if Hartley can give an estimate of financial damages the company sustained during the flooding response.

Hartley said she didn't have that figure available.

Miller went on to say that he felt some areas were disconnected when they didn't have to be, and that upon speaking with BGE supervisors on the scene, was told the decisions were being made by city officials. Upon speaking with city officials, Miller said he was told BGE was making the decisions to shut down utilities. He voiced concern with the communication and the decision-making during the event.

"The areas that flooded last month are the same areas that flooded in 1996 and the same in 1972. It doesn’t get any higher or any lower," Miller said. "The water never got up to Pink Lane, ever."

7:15 p.m.: Hartley gives a timeline of the events of the flooding and BGE's response.

During the flooding, 88 electric customers and 126 gas customers were disconnected.

"Six hours later we started getting favorable reports about the flooding and the levels of the Susquehanna," Hartley said.

BGE met with city officials regularly, and field employees went door-to-door, Hartley said, to help with communication during the flooding.

Around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, relighting and reenergizing began, and by 11 p.m. on Friday, 22 gas and 80 electric customers were restored.

As of today, Harley said, all electric has been restored and four gas customers remain without service despite efforts by BGE to establish contact with the property owners. If property owners are still without gas service, contact BGE or City Hall at 410-939-1800.

7:05 p.m.: Bonnie Johansen of Constellation Energy introduces Doreen Hartley, the director of gas and electric field services for BGE, who begins to run down a review of the shutdown of electric service to those residences along the waterfront during the floods from Tropical Storm Lee.

"Our attention very much was up here, up north," Hartley said.

7:00 p.m.: The meeting begins.

6:55 p.m.: City Council had its new portrait taken before Monday's meeting. All members are in the building. The meeting will begin soon.

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 , which includes a PDF file of the agenda.