Politics & Government

Westminster Common Council: Should Main Street be a Parking Meter-Free Zone?

City leaders debated parking and building renovations Monday night.

From the issue of free parking downtown to renovations at city hall, the Westminster Common Council worked Monday night for two and a half hours on city business. Below are details on some of the key issues:

Parking Meters on Main Street a Hindrance to Local Business?

Councilman Dennis Frazier asked the mayor and common council members to consider removing parking meters on Main Street. He said that the parking meters may keep some people from shopping in the downtown area. 

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"If you go anywhere else in Carroll County, you don't have to pay to shop. The parking meters put merchants downtown at a disadvantage," Frazier said.  

Council President Damian Halstad said the parking meters are more about getting turnover at parking spaces than about revenue. Frazier said there should still be a one- or two-hour parking time limit. 

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Halstad recommended the issue be taken up by the Public Safety Committee, which will then make a recommendation to the council.

Will City Hall Remain City Hall?

Councilman Robert Wack delivered a report from the finance committee saying that the city will need to make long-term decisions soon on the condition of several buildings and staff office locations. 

According to Wack and city administrator Marge Wolf, both the city hall building and the armory are in need of significant renovations. Repairs are scheduled for the city hall building to deal with short term problems like a leaking roof and rotting wood on the porch, but Wack said long-term plans are needed before larger financial decisions are made.

"We need to tackle and develop a long term plan for this building (city hall) and the armory building," Wack said. "Both are historic and in need of renovations. We need a long term plan for space requirements for all city staff. We need a task force or something to figure out the long term plan for these two particular buildings, and really a plan for all city buildings."  

Halstad said the council will take up the issue later this summer.

Two Mayoral Staff Appointments Approved

The council approved two appointments.

Mayor Kevin Utz recommended the appointment of Gary Ehlers to the treasurer and director of finance position. Ehlers has been serving in that capacity on an interim basis for two years.

Frazier said the position should be advertised and opened up to other potential candidates. 

Wack, a member of the finance committee, said the last two candidates who were hired through that process didn't work out. 

"He (Ehlers) has far and away exceeded expectations. In the last two years he's accomplished more than both of his predecessors accomplished in their time here," Wack said.  

Utz agreed. "Mr. Ehlers has not only done a good job but he has fixed a lot of problems," he said. "He was moved  to this provisional role and he’s earned this full time position."

Utz also appointed Steve Horn as the acting director of planning, zoning and development. He is covering the position while the standing director, Tom Beyard, is serving more than a year-long deployment with the National Guard. 

"Mr. Horn is a well respected candidate and deserves this appointment to this position while Tom (Beyard) is serving in the military," Utz said. 

Horn was the director of planning for Carroll County until the newly elected board of county commissioners terminated his position, among others, in late November.

"If there is a person in Carroll County that comes close to Mr. Beyard, it's Steve Horn," said Wack. "It's ridiculous how well this works out for the city." 

Next Common Council Meeting Canceled

The council also voted to cancel its next meeting, on June 27, because the mayor and at least one council member will be at the Maryland Municipal League annual convention. 


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