Harford News

City of Aberdeen Council Work Session met October 8. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the council:

A) Call to Order

Mayor McGrady called the Work Session to order at 5:30 p.m. in the second floor administrative conference room.

B) Roll Call

Present:             Mayor Patrick McGrady

                           Councilman Steven Goodin

                           Councilwoman Sandra Landbeck

                           Councilman Timothy Lindecamp

                           Councilman Melvin Taylor

Also Present:      Randy Robertson, City Manager

                            Phyllis Grover, Director of Planning & Community Development

                            Kyle Torster, Director of DPW

                            Parley Hess, Assistant City Engineer

                            Monica Correll, City Clerk

C) Business Topics

C.1 Land Use Subcommittee Report, I-95 Growth Areas - W. Paul Thompson, Sr., Chairman of the Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board / Land Use Subcommittee

This topic was to be rescheduled. A Special Council Meeting was being considered for Monday, October 15, 2018 with this to be included. The City Manager discussed a meeting with a Harford County Government official regarding the Senior Citizen Center program for considering interfacing with Parks and Recreation. Council discussion followed.

C.2 W. Bel Air Avenue, Pedestrian Improvements

        2018-10-02 W. Bel Air Avenue Improvements Work Session.pptx

Mr. Torster and Mr. Hess explained the goals, objectives, and costs relevant to:

- improving the parking structure within the downtown business district by providing channeling of the traffic and protection for parked vehicles;

- improving the pedestrian access to the downtown business district by providing protected islands for pedestrians and shorten the crossing distance at the intersections;

- increasing the pedestrian traffic in the downtown business district by providing additional sidewalk area at the front of the business which creates a better community atmosphere.

These changes could be proposed to the State to be incorporated within their design; the City would incur expenses. Council discussion followed concerning vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic priority, safety, traffic speed, etc.

Mr. Torster asked for the Council for direction. All Council concurred that the State should be approached.

C.3 Public-Private Alley & Open Space

        2018-10-05 Public Alley + Open Space Work Session.pptx

The Council were informed that a policy needed to be developed for the dedication and maintenance of Rights of Way and Open Space for 5-6 existing residential developments within the City of Aberdeen.

Brentwood Square Subdivision challenges were discussed as well as the possible actions, solutions, and resulting responsibilities and costs. Facts affecting the property concerned how it was possessed and dedicated. Council discussion followed. Other areas, other than Brentwood Square, would need to be considered as well. There was no current policy or ordinance guiding the situation. An initial resolution may be needed first and released for public comment to produce an official position for assessing and compliance.

Challenges:

Does the City want to take action to obtain title to the R/W and OS?

Decide under what conditions if/when the City would take possession of these undedicated parcels of land (R/W and OS).

Develop way forward (policy and procedures) for the dedication and maintenance of R/W and

OS for existing residential developments. (Condemnation process.)

   - Develop a policy for when the City will consider the issue.

   - Develop the procedure for presenting the specific parcel of land for City consideration.

   - Develop the process for acquiring the properties.

   - Establish a budget for the costs associated with the process.

C.4 Vacate Public Alleys

        2018-10-03 Vacate Alley Work Session.pptx

The Council was asked to develop a policy for the process to vacate Public Rights of Way. An area under consideration was Jones Alley.

The challenges were:

Develop a policy or criteria for the vacation of R/W.

If the original purpose of the R/W was no longer applicable, should the Council consider vacating the R/W?

If it was determined that vacating the R/W was in order, what would the process be to vacate the public interest in the property?

Council discussion followed.

D) Adjournment

Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

https://aberdeenmd.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=aberdeenmd_ae4c98b5-31cc-4a52-a8df-fc5c831ce1f7.pdf&view=1