Mutual Aid Approved, City Cars Surplussed

Aberdeen City Council approved a mutual aid agreement and introduced three other legislative items during Monday's meeting.

City Council also approved the donation of a police car to the Aberdeen Fire Department, and the sale of five surplus city vehicles.

Council also honored Aberdeen state champion swimmer Cora Summerfield, and responded to Patrick McGrady's critical letter to the editor on Aberdeen Patch.

Below is a recap of the meeting from a live blog:

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8:34 p.m.: The meeting is adjourned.

8:32 p.m.: Bennett notes that the Lions Pancake Supper will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Aberdeen High School.

8:24 p.m.: Councilman Garner congratulates Cora Summerfield and the Eagles womens' basketball team for their state titles.

The Eagles will attend the city council meeting on April 23 to be honored by council.

Garner notes that the team is losing a bunch of talent. He said, in particular, the Eagles will need two outside shooters because, "we're losign two of the best."

8:14 p.m.: Councilmembers Ruth Elliott and Sandy Landbeck take issue with .

Among Elliott's comments: "He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That’s the bottom line."

Patch will address council's response to that opinion letter in a later post.

8:02 p.m.: Mayor Bennett reveals that Monical Correll has been named the 2012 Municipal Clerk of the Year for the State of Maryland.

8 p.m.: Council unanimously approves the surplus of five vehicles, which, as proposed by Miller, "will be sold for the highest yield."

Those vehicles include:

• 1998 Cheverlet Lumina
• 2001 Ford F350
• 1998 Crown Victoria
• 2004 Ford F350
• 2004 Snapper zero-turn power

7:58 pm.: Council unanimously approves the surpluss of a 2003 Crown Victoria, which will be donated from the police department to the Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Department, as proposed by Miller.

7:55 p.m.: Lapinsky said a project at Walker Street & Nottingham Drive is complete, with 2,000 feet of sewer line and five new manholes. Another project on Carter Street is near completion.

Lapinsky said the ENR project is about 80 percent complete with about seven months remaining.

Lapinsky said he and Grover have joined the Aberdeen Relay For Life team. Lapinsky said he was given a challenge from Havre de Grace DPW employee Will Berry, of Hope for Havre de Grace.

Lapinsky also pleads with Councilman Garner, a huge Eagles basketball fan, to help push Eagles star Bri Jones to "Happy Valley" to play for Penn State. Jones, an Eagles junior, is a highly-touted recruit.

7:50 p.m.: Council approves three bids for equipment as recommended by Director of Public Works Matt Lapinsky:

1. A zero-turn mower from Atlantic Tractor in Whiteford. The 2012 John Deer 997 comes at a cost of $14,741.60. There were two other bids.
2. An air compressor from Folcomer Equipment in Aberdeen. The 2012 Airman PDS 185S comes at a cost of $13,995.00. There were no other bidders. The diesel-powered compressor would be used for storm drains.
3. A 1-ton, 4-wheel drive extended cab pick-up truck from Plaza Ford in Bel Air. The 2012 Ford F350 comes at a cost of $40,739. The truck will replace another vehicle from the wastewater treatment plant.

7:42 p.m.: Council votes unanimously to approve the consolidation, dedication and easement plat for the lands of 607 Old Philadelphia Road, LLC.

Three parcels will be consolidated into one larger property.

7:40 p.m.: Mayor Bennett said City Council will not vote on the site plan tonight, rather, they would like to have a work session.

The work session will be held April 16 at 4 p.m. The proposal will be presented at the next City Council meeting on April 23.

Councilwoman Sandy Landbeck said, "I’ve been an advocate of this project since the very beginning. When I ask for a little more time on this, please don’t think we’re not welcoming you."

The three primary stumbling blocks are provisions for triple-wall tanks, the water usage in the car wash and conditional use approval for the car wash.

About a half-dozen representatives of Frederick Ward Associates and Royal Farms were in attendance Monday.

7:25 p.m.: Jerry Powell of Frederick Ward Associates presents a .

The property would be accessible from U.S. Route 40 and Edmund Street.

7:21 p.m.: Mayor Bennett notes the City will be creating a green team. Aberdeen is part of the Sustainable Maryland Certified, and is looking to improve its sustainability and environmental awareness.

He also added there will be a communications committee.

"The city is going to be putting out a bi-monthly newsletter, and we're looking for citizens who would like to be a part of that process," Bennett said.

7:19 p.m.: A series of committee appointments are approved 4-0, with one abstention. Councilman Bruce Garner abstained, as his wife was one of the committee appointments.

7:17 p.m.: Resolution 12-R-05, Ordinances 12-O-04 and 12-O-05 are introduced.

A public hearing for Ordinances No. 12-O-05, the 2011-2012 comprehensive zoning review, will be May 7.

Phyllis Grover, director of planning and community development, stated: "We began the process of opening up to all the property owners in the city in November. We closed the application process in December of 2011, and we presented to the planning commission in January."

7:14 p.m.: City Manager Doug Miller introduces resolution 12-R-03, a public works mutual aid agreement. Council passes the resolution unanimously.

"If ever there is a natural or man made disaster, we can either give aid or receive aid from other jurisdictions, and then be reimbursed for that if there is a FEMA declaration," Miller said.

7:12 p.m.: Public comment session closes without any residents or guests stepping forward.

7:10 p.m.: Sharon Sheppe is on hand to receive a proclamation from Mayor Bennett.

The proclamation declares March 27 as American Diabetes Day in the City of Aberdeen.

7:08 p.m.: Cora Summerfield is honored with a recognition for .

Cora is a junior at .

She was also presented a Most Valuable Person award by Mayor Michael Bennett.

7:01 p.m.: Pastor Melvin Taylor of Word of Faith Christian Ministries leads the opening prayer

7 p.m.: The meeting begins.

6:58 p.m.: All members of council are in attendance and seated, and we're about to start. About a dozen in attendance.

6:45 p.m.: Welcome to our City Council live blog, where we will be updating the news coming from  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 , which includes a link to the agenda.

NOTE: Lulls in reporting happen from time to time due to connectivity inside the council chambers.