Ting, the Westminster broadband technology project, to begin
residential installations soon
At the meeting of the Westminster Common Council Monday
night, August 10, 2015, Westminster officials had a wide range of issues on the
agenda. From left to right: Dr. Mona Becker, Tony Chiavacci, Council President
Dr. Robert Wack, Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz, Suzanne Albert, and Greg
Pecoraro.
Broad range of topics discussed at the Westminster mayor and
common council meeting Monday night http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/08/broad-range-of-topics-discussed-at.html
Ting, the Westminster broadband technology project
Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz, (L) recognizes Superintendent
John Rawlings, Sr., for 30-yrs of service to the city at Mon night’s council http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/08/at-monday-nights-meeting-of-westminster.html
Westminster Mayor Kevin R. Utz, on the left, recognizes Superintendent
John A. Rawlings, Sr., for 30-years of service to the city at Monday night’s
council meeting as Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding and Finance Director
Tammy Palmer look on. August 10, 2015 by Kevin E. Dayhoff
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
By Kevin E. Dayhoff
At the meeting of the Westminster Common Council Monday
night, Westminster officials had a wide range of issues on the agenda;
including an employee recognition, new trucks and equipment purchases, a new
playground equipment initiative, and an update on the city’s fiber technology
project.
The meeting began with a mayor and common council
recognition of the city’s wastewater superintendent John A. Rawlings, Sr., for
thirty-years of service.
With his wife and family present, Westminster Mayor Kevin R.
Utz acknowledged how Rawlings and his department have saved the city a “great
deal of money over the years” by their diligence, and innovative management
approaches to an ever-increasingly complex aspect of government. Westminster
councilwoman Mona Becker, a professor of environmental studies at McDaniel
College agreed; reporting how she takes her environmental geology and chemistry
classes to the treatment plant for field trips.
This was followed by a progress report on the Westminster
Ting fiber technology initiative, by Valerie Bortz, the Westminster Ting city
manager.
“Exciting things are happening,” said Bortz as she reported
that the city’s fiber project is “getting ready to go live this week.” Bortz
reported that soon Ting will begin making scheduled fiber installations in
homes in Westminster.
Bortz also reported that the city recently was given a 2015
Community Broadband Innovative Partnership of the Year award by The National
Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA.) According to a
recent release found on the city’s Ting broadband fiber web page, “NATOA is a
professional association for local governments … [to] help these communities get
better access to telecommunications and broadband Internet services. These
awards are intended to recognize people, towns, companies and initiatives each
year that advanced the cause of broadband deployment and adoption in local
communities.”
A discussion among the councilmembers ensued about continued
efforts to get the word out about the broadband fiber initiative. It was noted
that there remain many questions about “What is Ting;” how does it bring value
to the city and what does it means to Westminster citizens.
In a recent e-mail interview with Westminster councilmember
Tony Chiavacci, he noted, “As far as the value. There is a lot. True high-speed
internet access … not what we currently have; but gig service - is going to be
as important in the future as electricity and roads are to us today.
“We feel this project puts us many years ahead of most of
the rest of the nation and it will position Westminster to be on the front of
this technology. The hope is by us being out in front, we will attract business
and individuals to Westminster that need this level of service, and cannot get
it elsewhere. Thus, providing high paying jobs opportunities, increasing the
average income, and pushing property values up in our area. As well as allowing
people to work where they live versus commuting out of the area every day.”
With Ting, “you are driving a Ferrari instead of a
Chevette,” said Chiavacci at the council meeting.
Jeff Glass, the city’s public works director then presented
several equipment and truck bids for the council’s deliberation and approval.
Glass also asked for the approval of this year’s annual roadway resurfacing and
paving contract. This past winter was hard on Westminster’s streets and the
councilmembers are anxious to begin addressing the roadway repairs and improvements.
Abby Gruber, the director of recreation discussed with the
mayor and council a project to rebuild the aging playground equipment at
Dutterer Park. According to a release by Gruber, after an upcoming planning
session, on “October 9, 2015, volunteers from The City of Westminster, The Boys
& Girls Club of Westminster, and Habitat for Humanity, along with BGE will
build a great new place for kids to play in one day. The project is in
partnership with KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit dedicated to giving kids the
childhood they deserve by bringing play to those who need it most.”
In other news, Utz reported that the Wakefield Valley golf
course task force recently held its first meeting to develop long term planning
for the use of the large property at the west end of town that will be
transferred to the city in the near future.
There were no ordinances or resolutions – or old business to
discuss and after departmental reports the meeting adjourned after a little
over an hour.
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