LIVE: Nov. 7 City Council Meeting

10:01 p.m.: Meeting adjourns.

10 p.m.: Councilman Miller said former Councilman Mitch Shank is currently at University Hospital with a kidney infection.

"It's not as bad as he thought it was," Miller said. "He is starting to feel better, and hopefully he'll get out of there in a day or two."

9:58 p.m.: Resident and business owner George Wagner raises issues with parking in the downtown area, claiming there needs to be provisions made for situational parking—such as a repair man parked for more than two hours making repairs at a local office or residences.

9:57 p.m.: Resident and former Councilman Joe Kochenderfer thanks the city staff for the new sound system in the council chambers.

"As someone who is hearing challenged, it’s a dramatic improvement over the previous system," Kochenderfer said. "It’s a big improvement. Thank you."

9:56 p.m.: Public comment begins.

Resident Kevin Racine reports back after attending the Rail-Volution conference in Washington, D.C. recently.

9:55 p.m.: Council President Martin said more than 200 families in Havre de Grace qualified last year for reimbursement via the Impact Aide Form. Military-dependent families can be reimbursed through the program.

Martin said he will cut his address short as he is picking up his son to go to Game Stop in Aberdeen to purchase the video game Modern Warfare III—which is released at midnight.

9:45 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum took issue with the amount of sediment that came through the Conowingo Dam following the flooding from Tropical Storm Lee.

"I find it very interesting. If we let out just a little bit more than what we’re supposed to do on a daily basis, or if we have sewage spill and a few thousand gallons of raw sewage spills into the waterway, we get fined for it. But I seriously doubt Exelon will get fined," Cullum said.

Cullum also noted highway user fees were cut approximately 90 percent, an item of information he picked up at the Maryland Municipal League's Fall Conference.

9:40 p.m.: Dougherty and Martin offer Miller the opportunity to create a motion in response to the executive order. Miller declines.

9:34 p.m.: Councilman Miller raised issue with a decision to permit banners to be placed on lightposts in the city without going before City Council. The Mayor released an executive order Monday for the Tourism Advisory Board to create a calendar for banners to be placed on city property.

Miller said he takes issue with banners being used for advertising, rather than for seasonal decoration.

9:24 p.m.: Councilman John Correri commented on how awesome it was to see "Havre de Grace" broadcast nationwide in advance of the Breeder's Cup on Saturday, which included .

9:22 p.m.: Councilwoman Barbara Wagner said that we are at the start of National Recycling Week, which runs from Nov. 7-13.

Wagner said a public work session will be held Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. to discuss sustainability. The meeting will be held to one hour.

Wagner said local businesses in the downtown district are working together to try to draw more patrons into the area for the holiday season. Patch will expand upon this initiative in another post.

9:18 p.m.: Dougherty reveals a switch in worker's compensation to IWIF for city employees will save the city approximately $94,500.

Dougherty also references following flooding from Tropical Storm Lee.

Dougherty said a grand opening for is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 12, and a new location grand opening for is set for 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 19.

9:04 p.m.: Dougherty begins his comment period.

Dougherty discusses the approved to basketball and tennis courts along Juniata Street.

8:55 p.m.: Mayor Dougherty begins an address regarding the city's financial status following the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2012.

Patch will provide that address in another post.

8:51 p.m.: Councilman Craig said he would strongly object to any changes to parking along Canvasback Drive without it first coming before City Council for a vote.

Mayor Dougherty said an answer will be given to City Council within seven business days.

Parks said the contractor is only obligated to paint solid double-yellow center lines, white stop bars and crosswalks. He said white stripes for shoulders can be painted at a later date.

8:45 p.m.: Councilmen Miller and Cullum have asked Parks to paint the white lines on Canvasback Drive four feet in from the curb so the white lines appear narrower, thus reducing the speed of traffic.

Councilman Randy Craig voices a concern that by painting a line in such a manner, parking may be restricted where it is currently permitted.

8:39 p.m.: Lewis Lane at U.S. Route 40 will be closed Nov. 9, beginning at 8 a.m., for approximately four-to-six hours on "the Burger King side" of Lewis Lane for repaving, according to Director of Department of Public Works Larry Parks.

Parks added that requests for bid will be sent out this week to qualified dredging companies to clear the sediment that has filled in the channel into the City Yacht Basin. Parks anticipates a bid will be accepted and work will begin in the "next few weeks" and must be completed by Feb. 15, 2012.

8:36 p.m.: Director of Administration Carol Mathis said Canvasback Drive is almost ready for new striping following approximately a month of repaving.

8:35 p.m.: Council approves two special events: a minor ammendment to close traffic and parking for the Main Street Christmas Parade and Tree lighting, and the Susquehanna Hose Company Duck Dunk—scheduled for Jan. 20, 2012 at the Tydings Park boat ramp.

8:32 p.m.: The schedule on the proposed ordinance moving forward is as follows:

• Public hearing on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., before the scheduled City Council meeting
• Public work session on Nov. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
• Proposed second reading of the ammendment at the Dec. 5 City Council meeting

The ordinance will be available on the City website Tuesday morning.

8:30 p.m.: Council is discussing a public hearing and work session schedule.

8:28 p.m.: Council President Bill Martin explains that the ordinance is "a complaint-driven ordinance" and not "a revenue ordinance."

Martin said the ordinance was created through administrative committee.

Councilman Miller said he sees the ordinance as one to create another job, with the city potentially bringing in about $24,000 in fees based upon what he said is a proposed $12 registration fee.

The motion to adopt on first reading carries, 4-2, with Council members Miller and Wagner voting against.

8:20 p.m.: Councilman Fred Cullum spoke in favor of the ordinance.

"If we choose not to do this, we go back to what’s on the books now. It was suspended for an eight month period so we could try to redo it," Cullum said, adding that the fees proposed should have been done years ago.

8:16 p.m.: Begrudgingly, Councilman Jim Miller—a council liaison to the planning commission—introduces the proposed ordinance.

"I was asked to introduce it, so I am introducing it," Miller said, adding that the planning commission did not have a say in the ordinance.

Miller and Councilwoman Barbara Wagner vote against the introduction of the ordinance, which would rescind the current property code and replace it in its entirety. The ordinance is introduced after passing by a 4-2 vote.

8:15 p.m.: Property owners Carol Rimel, Allen Fair, Charles Hiner, George Wagner and Martha Dennis speak out against the proposed ordinance to be introduced later in the meeting.

Each property owner references new fees.

Patch will expand upon each business person's comments in another forum.

7:55 p.m.: Public comment period on agenda items begins.

Resident Cecil Hill begins to discuss the impending ordinance to rescind and re-introduce a rental property code in Havre de Grace.

He cites a "new tax" as "a nuissance tax."

7:54 p.m.: Residents Bruce Clarke and Ronald Browning are unanimously reappointed to the Tourism Advisory Board.

7:52 p.m.: Packard closes by saying that Hose Company Treasurer Steve Gamatoria was personally upset by a political cartoon in a local publication.

“He takes a great deal of pride and puts in a significant amount of effort to maintain our records,” Packard said.

"I assure you that the City of Havre de Grace supports the Susquehanna Hose Company and the Havre e Grace Ambulance corps in the highest regard," Mayor Dougherty said. "You are held, and all members of the Susquehanna Hose Company and Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, are held in the highest esteem by the members of this administration."

7:50 p.m.: Packard said the Hose Company has sent out requests for donations in the mail. He wanted to take time Monday to assure residents that those donations will be used directly for the protection of Havre de Grace residents.

"Every dollar will be accounted for, as it always has been," Packard said.

7:40 p.m.: Packard said the Susquehanna Hose Company responded to "just over 600 emergency calls" since Jan. 1, 2011. Recently, the Hose Company has provided approximately 1,000 hours of voluntary service for a series of emergencies—a and various incidents in Havre de Grace.

Packard also defended the Hose Company's financial standing, as well, in response to a series of articles in "a local newspaper" that he said criticized the local volunteer fire agencies for their financial reporting to Harford County.

"The fire company, as I said, is alive, well, functioning smoothly. But I do feel compelled to mention that we are in a position of defending ourselves a little bit. In the past several weeks there have been a number of newspaper comments and articles in local papers that may have misled … I just want to assure everybody that the Hose Company is financial sound, financially responsible, and financially transparent," Packard said.

Packard said the county code requires volunteer emergency medical service agencies to report finances to the county, but this year was the first time the county has required such reports.

7:33 p.m.: Susquehanna Hose Company President Charles Packard begins an address of the State of the Union of Havre de Grace's volunteer fire company.

7:31 p.m.: Brigitte Peters and John Butler make a presentation on behalf of the American Flag Foundation. Butler is the president of the foundation, an educational program that teaches the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance and other flag-related items.

Butler presents the Mayor and City Council with a 15-star, 15-stripe flag—one of just 1,000 to be manufactured.

Butler, the Mayor, County Executive Craig and many others will be on hand Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. for at to unveil the flag for public release.

7:25 p.m.: senior is honored as a student of the month.

The crowd laughs as the 6-foot-5 Beck looks down at Mayor Dougherty.

Beck is the vice president of the Havre de Grace band, president of the National Honor Society and captain of the .

7:20 p.m.: sixth grader Samantha Beck is awarded with a student of the month recognition.

“She is new to our school, but right away she made an impact,” Havre de Grace Middle School principal Tony Bess said. “Not only is she a great student, she has a heart of gold, and that comes across every day.”

Samantha aspires to be a veterinarian or librarian.

7:15 p.m.: fourth grader Micah Jacobs is honored with a student of the month recognition. She is joined by a number of family members and the entire fourth grade staff at the school.

“The first name that came to my head was Micah Jacobs. She’s the first student in our classroom to offer encouragement to other students,” teacher Alison Barnowski said.

Micah also plays the cello.

"I just want to say thank you to my teachers for nominating me, to my principal for letting me have the award, and to my family for being support. And tomororw is my birthday," Micah said.

7:05 p.m.: A series of student of the month recognitions begin, starting with student Bridget Tramontana.

She is joined by her parents, sister, two brothers and her grandparents—County Executive David Craig and his wife, Melinda.

"Thank you to my teachers, my family and my principal," Bridget said.

7:03 p.m.: Mayor Wayne Dougherty welcomes County Executive David Craig, who is in attendance, to a round of applause from the audience.

7:00 p.m.: The meeting is underway.

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 .