STATED MEETING - CITY COUNCIL –JULY 28, 2009

A meeting of the Lancaster City Council was held on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, in Council Chambers, Southern Market Center, 100 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA, at 7:30 p.m., with President Williams presiding.

City Council led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present –Ms. Coller, Mr. Morales, Mr. Polite, Mr. Roschel, Ms. Saunders, Mr. Urdaneta & President Williams - 7

City Council approved the minutes of July 14, 2009 by a 6 – 1 vote.

Aye – Coller, Polite, Roschel, Saunders, Urdaneta, Williams – 6.

Abstain – Morales – 1.

At this time Mayor Gray commended former Mayor Arthur Morris for giving his time as Chairman of the Lancaster County  Convention Center Authority for the past 2 and a half years.  Mayor Gray stated that he started to serve during a difficult period and through his leadership and his personality and through his perseverance and openness; he has brought a project that is critically important to the City and County of Lancaster.  He put it together in a way where all felt welcome and involved.  Mayor Gray stated that we truly do appreciate the service that Arthur Morris has given to the citizens and residents of the City and the County of Lancaster.

Mayor Morris thanked Mayor Gray and the City Council for recognizing him this evening.  President Williams stated that on behalf of City Council she thanked him for his untiring work and dedication to the Convention Center.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Lisa Armellino, 5^th Street, stated that there are various concerns being raised about our surveillance system that is being managed by the Safety Coalition.  She urged the Council to involve the public and to move towards enacting guidelines and limitations for the surveillance.  She distributed an article that she found from Stamford, Connecticut, which shows the guidelines their administration uses to monitor the use of cameras.

Emerson Cottrell, 852 Marjory Terrace, also spoke out against the cameras, stating that most of them are placed mainly in the Churchtowne Area.  He takes offense to the fact that the cameras are placed in certain areas.  He further spoke of being stopped by police in a car that he was riding in, when he and his friends were coming home from a sports event.  President Williams asked him to stay later and talk to someone in the administration.

FINANCE COMMITTEE – Councilwoman Saunders stated that our mid-year budget review was last night and all of Council, the Mayor and representatives from each department were there, as well as one citizen.  We reviewed the budget over the past 6 months, although a few budget items were over, there are more that are under and it looks like we are following our own budget this year.  We should, hopefully, spend a little less this year than we planned.  Of course that brings a larger problem of what to do with the budget in the future, but for this year; so far, so good.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – Chairman Polite made a motion to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Phil Calhoun to the Lancaster City Housing Authority to replace Dave Schwanger.  Councilwoman Saunders seconded.  Mr. Calhoun was unanimously approved to serve on the Housing Authority.

Council considered the following application(s) and (Historic Commission recommendation(s) for construction & demolition within the Heritage Conservation District: 

1. Asambleas de Iglesia Pentacostales, proposes construction of a new covered front entry porch at 327-329 East King Street.

 

2. TCH Realty & development Company, LLC, proposes construction of a new corporate office building at 1310 Marshall Avenue (Lancaster  Stockyards) 

Councilman Polite made the motion to approve and Councilman Urdaneta seconded.  City Council approved the recommendation of the Historic Commission by a unanimous roll call vote.

Administration Resolution No. 51-2009, (the title) was read by the City Clerk as follows: 

A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LANCASTER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A WINTER TRAFFIC SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LANCASTER AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE CLEARING OF SNOW AND ICE FROM STATE HIGHWAYS LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS FOR THE WINTER SEASONS FROM 2009-2010 TO 2013-14. 

Councilman Roschel made the motion to approve and Councilman Urdaneta seconded.

Councilman Roschel stated that the prior 5-year contract with the State runs out this year, so this is a new 5-year contract. We have a lot of state roads within the city limits and the State reimburses us for removal of snow and ice in the winter on their roads.

City Council approved Administration Resolution No. 51-2009 by a unanimous roll call vote.

Administration Resolution No. 53-2009, (the title) was read by the City Clerk as follows: 

A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LANCASTER, APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF REAL ESTATE IN EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP FROM THE CITY OF LANCASTER TO THE LAFAYETTE FIRE COMPANY. 

Councilman Roschel made the motion to approve and Councilman Urdaneta seconded.

Councilman Roschel stated that this is a really small piece of land,  3/100ths of an acre.  It is where one of our water towers is.  The Fire Company needs this piece of land for safety concerns, so they can turn around easier.  In return they will do improvements to the surface parking lot for the City Water tower.

Council approved Administration Resolution No. 53-2009 by a unanimous roll call vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Rene Baumgardner, 500 block of South Duke, stated that she is here about the surveillance cameras.  She made a statement in support of having restrictions on the use of the cameras.  She also would like to see her City Council have more say in this program.

REPORT OF THE MAYOR – Mayor Gray gave his report to the City Council and it can be seen on the City’s website. www.cityoflancasterpa.com

President Williams adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.

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Louise B. Williams, President

Attest:

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City Clerk