Contracts, Signs, RAD Loan Approved; Rental Ordinance Moratorium Extended

City Council approved contract extensions for two directors and the amendments to the contract of police Chief Teresa Walter at the end of a three-hour meeting Monday night at .

Council also approved a RAD loan for a business on Washington Street, and two signs to be constructed in the right-of-way on Union Avenue.

Council voted unanimously to extend the moratorium for the much-discussed rental ordinance, and to hold a public hearing Dec. 19 to discuss the previously-approved Sustainable Maryland Certified resolution. In a narrow vote, council voted Monday night to reconsider the resolution, which was passed at the most recent council meeting by a 4-1 vote.

Also, Council President Bill Martin revealed the performing act scheduled for the 2012 Havre de Grace Seafood Festival.

Below is the content of a live blog of the council meeting:

10:08 p.m.: The meeting adjourns.

10:07 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty adds, "I’ve got to be the luckiest person in the City of Havre de Grace because I get to work with these individuals every day."

10:06 p.m.: Martin moves for council to approve a series of undisclosed amendments to Chief Teresa Walter's contract.

After a number of positive comments, council approves a three-year contract extension with a unanimous vote.

10 p.m.: Martin moves for council to approve a contract extention for Director of Finance George DeHority.

After a series of positive comments, council approves a three-year contract extension with a unanimous vote.

9:56 p.m.: Martin moves for council to approve a contract extension for Director of Planning Neal Mills.

After a series of positive comments, council approves a three-year contract extension with a unanimous vote.

9:55 p.m.: The Mayor, Council and applicable city staff have returned to the council chambers and the meeting reconvenes.

Resident Kevin Racine joins Patch as the only members of the audience.

9:10 p.m.: Council moves into a closed session, which will include Ishak, to discuss the contracts of Planning Director Neal Mills, Finance Director George DeHority and Police Chief Teresa Walter.

9:07 p.m.: Lori Maslin thanks Council President Martin for breaking the news of the Seafood Festival's musical act.

She asks residents to visit hdgseafoodfestival.org, which has a link to Ticket Leap. A SmartCar has been wrapped to advertise the festival. Maslin offers the green car—which gets 45 miles per gallon—to members of City Council and city staff for any travels they make around the state for civic business.

"The last time my wife and I went to a concert, Jay Leno had dark hair," Martin said. "That night was the greatest night of my entire year in Havre de Grace. The greatest thing about the concert, we walked to it. It was in my own town. ... I wish you the best and I support you."

9:06 p.m.: Fiocchi speaks further on the RAD loan approval from earlier in the evening.

"It just doesn’t smell right, you know. I love the town. I came here. I voted for every damn one of you. It's not like I have an ax to grind. I think a little more scrutiny is due," Fiocchi said.

9:03 p.m.: Allen Fair speaks in favor of recycling in the city.

He also speaks in favor of the Seafood Festival and their promoters, Charles and Lori Maslin.

"It is one heck of an undertaking of what they did last year," Fair said. "They need all the support they can get from the City of Havre de Grace, the county, and the state."

9:01 p.m.: Public comment period begins.

9:00 p.m.: Council President Bill Martin reveals the act for the 2012 Havre de Grace Seafood Festival will be the Marshall Tucker Band. The opening act will be Bad Company.

"Bad Company will be opening up for the Marshall Tucker Band at the 2012 Havre de Grace Seafood Festival," Martin said. "They're coming here to Havre de Grace. I heard the weather is going to be great."

Mayor Dougherty says he will be purchasing his tickets immediately.

8:42 p.m.: Council votes 4-2 in favor of reconsidering the ordinance.

Miller and Cullum, who voted in favor of the ordinance at the last meeting, vote against reconsideration.

Wagner, who voted in favor of the ordinance at the last meeting, pauses for a moment and votes in favor of reconsidering the ordinance.

Cullum moves for a public hearing prior to the Dec. 19 City Council meeting. Council approves the public hearing, 6-0.

It will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19 at City Hall.

8:35 p.m.: Councilman Correri asks council to reconsider the approval of the Sustainable Maryland Certified resolution. The resolution was approved at the Nov. 21 City Council meeting.

Councilman Craig, who was not in attendance at the last meeting, took issue with how the ordinance was passed.

"When I returned, I found it very disheartening to notice there was virtually no discussion by the council under the question on the merits or benefits of the amendments," Craig said. "There was virtually no discussion of the cost or implications of the discussion. No discussion, no argument, or even a line of reasoning for or against."

8:30 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum makes a motion to extend the moratorium on the rental ordinance for 180 days, beginning Dec. 18.

Council votes unanimously to approve the moratorium, which would have ended Dec. 18.

8:20 p.m.: Dougherty delivers touching words on community staple Karen Green, of Harford County Parks and Recreation. A dance-a-thon will be held Dec. 11, from 2-4 p.m.

Patch will provide further details on the event in a later post.

8:14 p.m.: Dougherty introduces a proposal to offer small businesses a tax credit up to $500.

Those businesses would have to meet two qualifications:

1. Provide evidence that they are at least 10 percent owned by a Havre de Grace resident
2. Prove 10 percent of their employees for the year are Havre de Grace residents

He asks council to consider the proposal in the near future.

8:09 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty begins to introduce a proposed personal property tax program.

8:04 p.m.: Council votes unanimously to approve seven special events:

• Women’s 5K by the Bay » 8 a.m. on April 15, 2012
• Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway River Sweep » April 21, 2012
• HdG Arts Commission Friday Concerts in the Park » Fridays in June and July
• Decoy and Wildlife Festival » May 4-6, 2012
• Second Annual Blessing of the Animals and Pet Expo » Sept. 9, 2012
• 23^rd Annual Children’s Arts Festival » Sept. 8, 2012
• Post 47 American Legion Car Show to benefit Wounded Warrior Project » June 23, 3012

Originally on the agenda, the Arts Ball scheduled for Jan. 28, 2012 is removed from the agenda as no city services are required.

8 p.m.: Council votes 3-1, with Miller voting against, and both Wagner and Council Martin abstaining.

Upon question from Fiocchi, DeHority says the loan is in the amount of $100,000. Dougherty says the loan is in the maximum amount allowed under the program.

Wagner and Martin return to the room.

7:50 p.m.: Council President Martin and Councilwoman Wagner depart the chambers and recuse themselves from voting on a RAD loan for Mary Martin, Ltd.

7:48 p.m: The council votes unanimously in favor of two signs in the city right of way on Union Avenue.

will be located at 500 N. Union Ave.—the site of the . The other at 608 S. Union Ave.

7:47 p.m.: Resident and local business owner Lori Maslin speaks in favor of the RAD loan program. She agrees with Councilman Miller that the program is broken, but said it serves a vital role in enabling new and struggling businesses to get started and improve business.

7:45 p.m.: Joseph Fiocchi of the 400 block of Commerce Street has a series of questions on the RAD Loan program. City Finance Director George DeHority and City Attorney Paul W. Ishak begin to address the questions.

Fiocchi said he has concerns about the rate of defaults and failure to repay loans in the city.

"We have one of the best-run programs in the state. We have the lowest level of default," Ishak said.

"The whole reason the state has this program is to help get fledgling programs off the ground," Ishak said.

The RAD loan in question is for, according to the agenda, "Mary Martin, Ltd; Antiques Postcards and Supplies; 230 North Washington Street."

Fiocchi asks each member of council if they have been privy to the finances and paperwork filed by Mary Martin, Ltd.

Council President Bill Martin and Councilwoman Barbara Wagner will recuse themselves from the vote.

Councilman Jim Miller said he feels the RAD loan program is broken, and does not intend to vote for the proposed loan.

Councilman Randy Craig, the chair of the budget and finance committee, is the only council member to say he has reviewed the paperwork filed.

7:30 p.m.: The period for public comment on agenda items begins.

7:28 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty and City Council recognize senior as student of the month.

Brad is a member of the orchestra, S.M.I.L.E.S. and the varsity club. Brad had the for the Warriors soccer team in clinching the . Brad maintains a 4.0 GPA.

7:23 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty and City Council recognize sixth grader Alyssa Coutts as student of the month.

Alyssa received straight A’s in the first quarter. She is the student government association secretary, plays clarinet in band and is a member of the drama club. She also plays lacrosse and soccer, and is a member of the .

School principal Tony Bess said Alyssa's mother is a teacher at the school, and he's not suprised whatsoever that Alyssa and her family are being recognized.

7:16 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty and City Council recognize fifth grader Kayla Sumpter as student of the month.

Kayla leads the steel drum performers at the school and is considered a leader in the school by her teachers. She helps write, produce and anchor the morning news show at the school. Kayla has made honor roll every quarter since third grade and wants to be a teacher or nurse.

Kayla is joined by her parents, brother, cousin, grandparents and aunt. Some of her family has traveled from New Orleans.

7:07 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty and City Council recognize fifth grader Paige Aldenberg as student of the month.

Paige is in a military family and has lived in five different states. Her mother and brother, Trevor, joined her at City Hall. Her father is traveling with the military.

Paige sings in the choir and is an anchor on the school's morning announcements television program.

7:04 p.m.: Mayor Wayne Dougherty begins recognitions of local students of the month.

7:00 p.m.: The meeting begins with the Mayor and all members of City Council in attendance.

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.