Report on December 5 Commissioners workshop

The Mayor and Commissioners met for two meetings on December 5.

Special Meeting:

 

  • Awarded contract for sidewalk improvement (making intersections on King Charles Street to Laurel ADA compliant) to Guardian, the low bidder.

Commissioners’ Workshop

All were present. Following actions were taken: 

 

  • Discussed implementation  strategies for the City’s 2010 Comprehensive Development Plan. Commissioner Hunker will submit worksheet showing status of items selected for consideration by Commissioners. Specific recommendations on five items selected for consideration  for action will be sought from Planning Commission.

  • Discussed amending various ordinances that are effective seasonally and/or have time of day provisions, to make beginning and ending dates and the time of day provisions more consistent between the various ordinances.  Commissioner Mills  announced change will be incorporated  into new ordinance defining daybreak as 30 minutes  before sunrise.  The proposed changes will be placed on agenda for December 16 meeting.

  • Discussed not opening City Hall on the first Saturday of the month from November through April as is presently done. Commissioner McGuiness  explained that during the off-season, citizens did not visit or telephone City Hall on the first Saturdays.  Consensus reached to discontinue the practice effective as soon as possible (January 2012)

 

  • Discussed amending City Code, to allow expanded hours of use of patios associated with restaurants which section was suspended until January 1, 2012.Commissioner Coluzzi urged passage  of ordinance emphasizing  new hours had worked well during the 2011 summer and Enforcement Officer Bobby Edmonds had been effective in reducing noise complaints.  Commissioner Sargent commented that patio ordinance had been used  in the past to “control noise” and any  changes in the patio ordinance should be discussed and acted upon at same time as changes to noise orduinance.  He commented he saw no harm in waiting until perhaps March to discuss and amend both ordinances.
  • Commissioner Coluzzi  emphasized that a commitment had been made  to decide  on patio hours by January 2012 and that  commitment should be honored.  Commissioner Hunker, Zellers and McGuiness (Commissioner Mills recused) agreed that commitment to resolve the issue had been made, and that patio ordinance should be considered separately from noise ordinance.
  • Mayor Cooper remarked that although he agreed with Commissioner Sargent, he was willing to move forward on separate  consideration with the understanding the  Noise Ordinance will be  addressed as soon as possible.
  • Consensus reached: Patio ordinance falls  under zoning code  and   City     Solicitor will prepare resolution for December 16 regular meeting  setting   public hearing and vote for January 21, 2012 meeting.  Noise   ordinance will be listed on agenda for January 2012  workshop..

  • Discussed  proposed resolution setting tree canopy goals.  Brian Hall      (Sussex County Circuit-Rider and Planner of the State's Office of Planning and Coordination) reported that  nearly all tree planting authorized under the previous grant  for 2011has been completed.  Resolution  is needed to prepare for next request to state requesting funds for additional review and work.

 

 

 

 

Joanne Hess

 

Recording Secretary,

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