City Council Meeting

The Baltimore City Council was deep into nearly an hour's worth of talk on a resolution that wasn't even up for a vote. The clock was ticking. The television cameras were taking in every word.And that, 3rd District Councilman Wilbur E. Cunningham concluded, was the problem."I'm not sure why we're discussing this," Mr. Cunningham said testily into the microphone at last week's meeting when he finally got his turn to speak. "I suggest maybe we wouldn't have this conversation if we didn't have so many television cameras in the chamber right now."

The mayor says she doesn't mind being called a dictator. To Ruth Elliott, that's just groundless name-calling, a product of bitterness among political rivals who never lived down her election.Whatever they or any of her detractors say about her management style is immaterial, she says. Mrs. Elliott says she's just done what's best for Aberdeen.Even if that meant launching an investigation of the police chief and his department, amid allegations of mismanagement and improper bookkeeping -- over the objections of City Council members and the city manager.

Last night's Baltimore City Council meeting was punctuated by an angry outburst from the president of a group that's pushing for a publicly owned, non-profit insurance cooperative for city drivers.Police were called to restore order and A. Robert Kaufman, president of the City Wide Insurance Coalition, was ejected from the meeting.The incident occurred as a beaming Councilman Melvin A. Stukes, D-6th, explained how he and other council members had devised a way for donors to make tax-deductible contributions to raise $60,000 needed for a study of the alternative insurance company for city drivers.

Editor's note: The Westminster Council is considering a consultant'srecommendation to increase office space with an addition to City Hall and a new building for the Police Department. We have been asking readers what form the proposed expansion should take, whether the cityshould lease existing space, purchase available space, build an addition, construct new buildings, and whether the city should pay cash or finance it through bonds. Here are some of the replies we received:From: Robert F. BeyerWestminsterMore space is not needed.

Just three months after Philip F. Hertz moved here to manage the county's largest municipality, he's looking for another job.In a special City Council meeting Friday afternoon, members unanimously approved an ordinance abolishing Hertz's job and returning all administrative duties to the mayor."

TANEYTOWN - City Councilman David E. Wantz, who was swept into office last year on a pledge of open and responsive government, will step down at the end of the month.Wantz, 34, has not lived in the city -- or the state, for that matter -- since he moved to his wife Susan's home in Carroll Valley, Pa., in mid-November. And while he will maintain ties to his hometown, he no longer is eligible to hold public office here."I really regret having to do what I did," Wantz said yesterday of his resignation, which was announced during Monday's City Council meeting.

WESTMINSTER - Members of the city's FallFest Committee presented checks to each of the benefiting charities from this year's event at Monday night's City Council meeting.Representatives from the Boy Scouts, Junction and Family and Children's Services were all present to receive their $3,500 checks.Carol Donovan, head of the city's recreation department, said the festival raised $14,900 this year. Of the remaining money, $400 was donated to Carroll County Food Sunday, $2,000 will be used to upgrade electricity and $2,000 was kept to begin planning for next year.

SYKESVILLE - The Town Council will review a proposed ordinance that would allow town residents to erect satellite television dishes.In October, the council was approached by a Sykesville couple that had spent $3,000 on a dish, then learned of Town Ordinance 106, which prohibits the devices within town limits.Council members agreed that the dishes have become so commonplace that it may be time to rewrite the ordinance. Also, some members said they've seen many dishes already erected in town, despite the ordinance.