LIVE: Landlords Speak Out Against Proposed Rental Ordinance; Hearing Closes

10:01 p.m.: Meeting is adjourned.

9:59 p.m.: Councilman Cullum points out that the reason he asked for an agenda amendment at the beginning of the meeting was to allow for public comment on the sustainability resolution.

9:57 p.m.: Council President Martin said he is in full support of recycling, but has questions about the sustainability program.

Martin added that he is proud of the way the city handled the arrival of the Occupy marchers Thursday night into Friday morning.

9:50 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty responded to Miller's comments by saying that he does not write legislation.

"Your comments were totally unwarranted and need not be directed at me," Dougherty said. "Nobody attempted to sidetrack this piece of legislation."

9:45 p.m.: Councilman Miller defended the Mayor and his fellow council members against the notion that they allowed the at 500 N. Union Ave.

"The City Council, the Mayor, the planning department, nobody had anything to do with that business going in there," Miller said. "The property was properly zoned for retail, and 7-Eleven is a a retail business."

Miller also suggested Mayor Dougherty and others attempted to stall the sustainability resolution.

"This could have been put on the website two weeks ago," Miller said. "You talk about open dialogue. Councilwoman Wagner presented a resolution to you, and you changed it. Now Councilwoman Wagner submitted it back and you’re mad about that."

Miller closes by thanking Lewis Lane Singers.

9:43 p.m.: Councilman Correri reminds everyone that there is a drive-through drop-off at the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps for the .

Correri said the Ambulance Corps had the third-highest drop-off totals in the state last year, and that the group would like to climb to No. 2 in the state this year.

9:40 p.m.: Councilwoman Wagner thanks the Mayor and Council for their support in passing the sustainability resolution.

She notes that the Mayor will have ultimate say on who joins the "green team," but she urges anyone with interest to contact City Hall.

Wagner said she attend the at Biller's Bikes Sunday evening.

9:37 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty defends the notion that there are code enforcement officers checking into trees.

9:34 p.m.: Councilman Cullum requests that the planning department gathers and prepares data on the amount of code violations and on the number of calls for service at rental properties in time for the upcoming public work session next week.

Cullum said he's never seen a resolution take as much time to pass as the sustainability resolution.

"I just don't understand what the problem was. It's done," Councilman Cullum said. "If you can get four votes to overturn it, help yourself. I'm glad we finally got it on the table, let's move on."

9:22 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty begins his to address the business of the mayor.

Dougherty takes issue with the process in which the sustainability resolution has been presented before City Council, noting that he has been told the sustainability project wouldn't cost the city anything. He notes that it has cost time for council and for city employees during the process of introducing the proposed resolution.

Dougherty notes that BGE gas rates may decrease for residents, based upon notification received from BGE.

Dougherty notes that he has information in response to Miller's request to consider solid white lines to narrow traffic on Canvasback Drive. Miller requests to see the findings.

9:20 p.m.: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, recycling will be collected Friday and yard waste will be collected on Saturday, Director of Department of Public Works Larry Parks said.

9:19 p.m.: Director of Planning Neal Mills reports that 84 single-family dwellings have been approved for Scenic Manor, located across Chapel Road from the traffic circle at Bulle Rock.

9:17 p.m.: The Mardi Gras Parade is introduced as a proposed special event.

The event is approved by a 5-0 vote.

9:15 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty introduces a proposal of $100 bonuses for fulltime employees and $50 bonuses for parttime employees. The total cost would be $13,000.

"This money is in the approved budget," Dougherty said.

Councilman Miller asks if the Mayor would first consider a tax rebate to residents.

Mayor Dougherty said he is planning to present a tax break to residents during the Dec. 5 City Council meeting.

The motion for employee bonuses carries, 4-1, with Miller voting against.

9:12 p.m.: Council President Martin moves for the resolution to be held for a public hearing on Dec. 5, due to the series of changes that were made Monday.

Martin and Councilman John Correri vote in favor of holding the resolution. Council members Miller, Cullum and Wagner vote against holding the resolution.

The resolution passes by a 5-1 vote, with Martin voting no.

9:02 p.m.: Councilwoman Barbara Wagner moves to make a series of amendments to Resolution 2011-18, which would declare support for the city's participation in the Maryland Sustainable Certification program.

8:59 p.m.: Council prepares to discuss a resolution regarding sustainability. Council pauses as the number for the resolution is researched, as the resolution was tabled at a previous meeting.

8:56 p.m.: Public comment period opens.

Pastor Norman Obenshein of Havre de Grace United Methodist Church thanks city employees—particularly the police—and other members of the commuity for their involvement in welcoming the to Havre de Grace.

8:54 p.m.: Terri Dezell is appointed to the Tourism Advisory Board and sworn into office by Mayor Dougherty. Her term will run from Nov. 21, 2011 to Nov. 21, 2014.

8:38 p.m.: Members of the Reznick Group present a report on the city's financial statements from Fiscal Year 2011.

The report revealed that there was one material weakness discovered, when "checks were erroneously posted due to pre-dating of checks," Lucas Matesa of the Reznick Group said.

It was found these incidents were isolated, Matesa said, and no city assets were exposed to risk or loss. As a result, the city's finance department will oversee that all checks are signed with proper dates.

There was no difficulty in cooperating with city management during the report, Matesa said.

"I would probably say yes, you are doing more with less for a city of your size," Matesa said in response to a question from Mayor Dougherty.

8:36 p.m.: Chris Scott, Katie Bubb and Sarah Wasielewski of the S.M.I.L.E.S. student volunteer group thank Havre de Grace City Council for continued financial support of the organization.

Scott, the club's vice president for this school year, said 700 meals were served at the 2010 S.M.I.L.E.S. Thanksgiving dinner.

This year's dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at St. Patrick's Church Hall. Volunteers are needed, and are asked to be at the Church Hall at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

8:33 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum and Mayor Wayne Dougherty proclaim November Municipal Government Works Month.

8:24 p.m.: City employees Bay Wettig and Ronald "Dinghy" Fears are presented a "Did you know award."

The employees aided an auto accident victim on Route 155 outside of Havre de Grace city limits earlier this year. Both are members of the Susquehanna Hose Company. The city employees were nominated by Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works Bill Reeder.

8:20 p.m.: Robert Angelucci is presented a recognition for EMT Person of the Month.

Angelucci dove into the murky water in the Tidewater Marina for what became a drowning in May. Angelucci did so without any safety gear, and continued to repeatedly dive in search of the victim while other rescue personnel began to arrive.

“He gave so much and asked for so little back. He’s one of the quiet heroes that makes the fabric of this community so strong," Councilman John Correri said.

“I would do it for anybody,” Angelucci said.

8:12 p.m.: Councilman Cullum moves to bring the sustainability proposal back off the table with an amendment to the council agenda. The motion is carried by unanimous vote.

8:10 p.m.: The Lewis Lane Singers perform the Millennium Prayer. Patch will provide video of that performance in a future post.

8:02 p.m.: Council meeting begins. Councilman Randy Craig is not in attendance.

7:52 p.m.: Public hearing closes. A five-minute recess has been called.

7:51 p.m.: Councilman Jim Miller said the ordinance was "affectionately known as Gary’s Law," when then-Councilman Gary Wasielewski supported the ordinance while running for mayor.

Cullum said he met with landlords "three to four times in this chamber here. It wasn't working."

7:50 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum noted that those in attendance tonight are, for the most part, the best landlords in the city.

"I wasn't 100 percent sold on it when we did it the first time," Cullum said. "I'm still not sure we need to do this. We don't regulate other businesses in the city. The only other business we regulate in this city is the taxicab business, and we sure don't do a good job at that, based upon the ones I see running up and down the street."

Cullum said he is looking forward to the work session next week.

7:45 p.m.: Council President Bill Martin addresses a number of questions raised during public comment.

Martin said, "The biggest rub in this room is the $12 fee per year. ... I’m willing to visit the fee."

He reminded those in the audience that a public work session will be held Nov. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

"To me, the fee could go up or go down. As far as I’m concerned, we can work something out," Martin said. "A $12 fee is a dollar a month. That gives you a license to operate your business in this town. I need a license to go fishing … I believe the ordinance is good ordinance, and it's going to work."

Martin called rental properties the "biggest industry in this town."

"My biggest goal is to get every rental property in this city on paper," Martin said.

"If the law is not working, I’ll be the first to say scrap it."

7:39 p.m.: No further landlords or residents come forward to speak.

7:38 p.m.: Charles Hiner, of BCH Realty, said his business is "concerned about the health, welfare and safety of our tenants."

He asks for less government and more answers from City Council on why this ordinance is necessary.

7:36 p.m.: George Wagner, of Union Avenue, said the major issue is enforcement.

"All we need to do is enforce the codes that are already on there," Wagner said, citing the 2004 update of the code.

He also cited an exemption for subsidized housing under the previous code, asking, simply: "Why?"

Wagner said the ordinance simply creates another level of government.

7:35 p.m.: Carol Rimel asks if the City Council would consider meeting with landlords and tenants.

"Pick who you want. There is a roomful here," she said. "Tell us just what it is you would like for us to do. What it is you would like to get out of the landlords to make your town, because it makes it sound as if you feel like we’re not doing our job."

7:31 p.m.: M. Helen Cayer, of the 1000 block of Chesapeake Drive, said she was on the original landlord tenant commission as the lone tenant on the commission.

"Every agenda was about landlord issues," she said. "Tenants do not become a part of these things because of fear. They don’t want to complain because if they complain, their rent will go up."

Cayer asked if there were any renters in the standing-room-only crowd. She estimated five people raised their hands, adding that there is "an unusually high rental population" in Havre de Grace. She said renters need to be part of the discussion, too.

7:29 p.m.: Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie, who represents Joppatowne, spoke about issues plaguing his community.

"We're trying to handle the same problem at the Harford County level," Guthrie said, adding that there has been a task force created to study the livability code in Harford County.

7:19 p.m.: Mary Lynn Snyder, of Bourbon Street, said she was on the first commission that began putting a rental code on paper, and even at that time, there wasn't a clear majority on how to handle landlord oversight.

Snyder said enforcement was an issue. This time around, she said there was no insight gathered from the landlord community.

"I wish they’d come to us and said to us, we need help," she said. "Nobody ever did that. All of the sudden, boom, here it is in front of us. None of us have had a chance to have any input other than here tonight. Shame on you."

7:16 p.m.: Gary Getz, of Bourbon Street, isn't clear on the purpose of the ordinance.

He said government shouldn't help dictate who is living in properties and how much they pay to live there.

"I think the market is basically going to take care of that for us," he said. "We wont need bureaucracy to do that."

7:14 p.m.: Dr. Edna Hirsch, of Churchville, owns property in Havre de Grace.

She feels that most landlord—particularly those in attendance Monday—keep their properties in good shape.

The ordinance, she said is "really for the few. What happens at that point, most of us are suffering for the few that don’t follow the regulations.”

She closed by saying she would side with "The Tea Party on this one. ... Less regulations, less government interference, and less taxes, even if they come in the form of fees."

7:12 p.m.: Former Havre de Grace Mayor Dr. Gunther Hirsch reflected on the bringing down of the Berlin Wall, pleading with the Mayor and Council: "I’m telling you, don’t erect any new walls in Havre de Grace that wouild make it difficult for landlords to operate."

Hirsch said the ordinance would require more forms in the landlords' hands.

"Any bill like this is punitive for the landlords," Hirsch said. "It is difficult to be a landlord in any case. There are also multiple condos in Havre de Grace now, and they will be rentals soon. Anybody that can’t pay their mortgage will become landlords."

7:10 p.m.: Candace Bossoli, of the 500 block of Camila Street, gives a list of concerns, reading from a prepared statement.

She would also like the accounting of the fees collected to be displayed transparently, and be collected separately from the general fund.

7:02 p.m.: Martha Denis, of the 600 block of Lafayette Street, wonders why this law is necessary.

She also wonders why landlords are singled out in this ordinance, while homeowners who vacate their properties for months at a time are not scrutinized under the proposal.

"You’re just creating a monster as far as I can see," Denis said.

Mayor Dougherty responded by saying, "It deals strictly with rental properties."

7:01 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty issues standards for the public hearing—individuals have three minutes to speak, and individuals who declare themselves as representatives of a group will be granted five minutes.

7 p.m.: Public hearing on the begins. Mayor Wayne Dougherty and members of City Council—save for Councilman Randy Craig—are in attendance.

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