Please close the gate

Please close the gate

Double-decker kitty cats

Double-decker kitty cats

Classico Pizzeria Westminster MD.

Hi from Caroline, Grammy – Evelyn Babylon, and me.  We picked-up our dinner at Classico Pizzeria at the College Square Shopping Center. We loved our dinners. We each got one of the specials. Saturday, May 22, 2021.

Tiombe Paige at Cutivated

Caroline and I were happy to have a chance to stop by to see our friend and former neighbor, Tiombe Paige, at Cutivated in historic downtown Westminster. Next stop, Giulianova Groceria for pit beef sandwiches. It was a great day in historic downtown Westminster. May 22, 2021 Saturday.

Westminster Farmers’ Market

Westminster Farmers' Market - Saturday, May 22, 2021: Caroline and I enjoyed seeing so many friends at the Westminster Downtown Farmers' Market.

Westminster Downtown Farmers'Market

It is wonderful to have the Westminster Downtown Farmers' Market begin a new season. We saw so many friends and really enjoyed getting outside to spend time with local vendors. Hats off to the newly elected Mayor Mona Becker and looking forward to another season with the market's manager and huge downtown Main Street promoter Brooke Hagerty. Thanks for all your great leadership. Sat. May 15, 2021

April 23, 2021: Westminster budget workshop

Westminster mayor, council find way to raise salaries, fund new positions By KRISTEN GRIFFITH CARROLL COUNTY TIMES | APR 23, 2021 AT 5:00 AM

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/cc-westminster-budget-20210423-wfu5m2qkknc5xemck63luuacei-story.html 

Westminster’s common council and mayor workshopped how to fund positions while also raising city employee salaries.

The group was faced with fulfilling position requests while also finding ways to adjust its pay structure. They agreed during a Monday budget work session to use federal funds and funds from a parking study to do both.

The council received requests to fund three new positions: a fulltime help desk attendant, which would cost $82,400 including benefits, and two equipment operators that would cost $71,000 each.

A firm the city hired to recommend adjustments to its pay structure, Evergreen Solutions, suggested positions be reclassified and to adjustment its pay structure by 3%, which would increase salaries of 92 employees. The firm gave three options on how to do that. However, those options would affect hiring new people.

Barbara Matthews, the city administrator, said option one is the most aggressive and would move employees to the midpoint pay raise. It would cost nearly $664,000, but it would not allow for new positions to be added. Option two would be the “middle of the road” and allow for the help desk attendant. It would cost about $557,000. Option three would be the least aggressive in moving employees to a midpoint range. It would cost just over $501,000, but it would allow for one equipment operator and the help desk assistant. None would allow for all three positions. Matthews recommended option one or two.

Mayor Joe Dominick suggested relying on an expected federal grant to fund budget items the grant allows and freeing up operating budget money to help with salaries and also fund all three positions.

The city is anticipating $15.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act passed by the United States Congress under the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Half the money is expected in about a month and the rest 30 days later.

Council President Gregory Pecoraro noted if they use the mayor’s suggestion, they could end up using reserved funds to balance the budget if they do not receive the federal money by the time the budget needs to be passed.

Matthews said it’s best to make decisions based on the information they have, and the full spending guidance for the federal money has not been released yet. She added option two is the “reasonable approach.” Lydia Colston, the city’s director of finance, agreed.

“I’m hesitant to make decisions based on what we believe can happen,” Colston said.

Dominick said budget planning is based on educated guesses and comes with a certain level of risk.

“This is another one, and I think it’s a safe bet,” he added.

Council member Tony Chiavacci agreed and also suggested option one. He said later in an interview that the city has enough money in its budgets to fulfil option one. And if by some reason the federal funding does not come through, the new positions would not be funded.

Council member Ben Yingling later noted there was $200,000 allocated for Wakefield Valley Park improvements though that project expects to have grant money. He said if they used those funds, they could pick option two and fund the help desk and one equipment operator position.

However, fellow council member Ann Gilbert suggested using the $190,000 that was assigned to fund a parking study they are “most likely not going to be using.”

“If we have $190,000 we could fund all three,” the mayor said about the positions.

“That would make me very happy,” council member Kevin Dayhoff said.

Chiavacci said in an interview the parking study could be funded later.

The city’s fiscal 2022 budget totals $62 million in revenue and $60.8 million in expenditures, which includes $30.6 million in the sewer fund, $17.1 million in the general fund, $6.5 million in the water fund, $5.2 million in the capital fund and $1.4 million in the fiber fund.

The budget allows for no change in property taxes and the revenue of Ting is insufficient to cover its debt service.

No comments were made during the first public hearing for the budget on Monday. The next public hearing is April 26, the same day as the public work session. The budget is expected to be adopted May 10.

Kristen Griffith

CONTACT  

________________________________________

Kristen J. Griffith covers community news with a focus on education for the Carroll County Times. Kristen came to Baltimore Sun Media from The Enterprise in St. Mary’s County where she was honored by a state press association as the Rookie of the Year. She earned a master’s degree American University and a bachelor’s degree from Wesley College.

20210423 Budget cct

+++ Dayhoff Westminster +++

Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.

Carroll County Times: www.tinyurl.com/KED-CCT

Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://tinyurl.com/KED-Sun

Westminster Patch: https://patch.com/users/kevin-e-dayhoff

Facebook Dayhoff for Westminster: https://www.facebook.com/DayhoffforWestminster/

Facebook: Kevin Earl Dayhoff: https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff

Dayhoff for Westminster: www.kevindayhoff.city

Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net

Dayhoff Carroll: www.kevindayhoff.org

Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Time Flies: www.kevindayhoff.info | https://kevindayhoff.wordpress.com/

Westminster Mayoral Candidates Forum 2021

The Community Media Center (CMC) partnered with the Carroll County Times to hold a virtual Westminster Mayoral Candidates Forum on 4/21/2021. Mr. Bob Blubaugh, editor of the Carroll County Times will serve as the moderator for the event.

Happy Easter.

Happy Easter

A Marine’s Easter dinner

A Marine's Easter dinner. Happy Easter and Semper Fi to all my brothers and sisters in uniform. God bless. Be safe out there.

A trip to the grocery store

A trip to the grocery store to pick-up essentials. (1Apr2021)

National Vietnam War Veterans Day March 29

National Vietnam War Veterans Day March 29, 1973: 

Today - March 29th is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, marking the day U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, disestablished on March 29, 1973. 

Caroline and I stopped by the Vietnam Memorial at Willis and Court Street over the weekend and cleaned-up the area. This is the 4th year of Vietnam Veterans Day – I think in the future we ought to hold a small ceremony at the memorial like we do for Memorial Day, Veterans Day and over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. 

This year, for Woman's History Month and National Vietnam War Veterans Day, I wrote a story about Barbara Robbins. Robbins is something of a legend - in a hushed tone of voice - in the agency. I have always found this story so haunting and sad: Barbara Robbins was the first female killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. Please find the story here: https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/lifestyles/cc-lt-dayhoff-032121-20210319-zsdd6doivjadbi275p234jsqyy-story.html

Mission BBQ opened today in Westminster

Mission BBQ opened today in Westminster where Friendly's Restaurant used to be located at 584 Jermor Way

Friendly's had closed at that location on Nov. 27, 2018. According to an article in the Carroll County Times on Nov. 28, 2018, "The company that was founded in 1935 the middle of the Great Depression in Springfield, Massachusetts, and would become Friendly Ice Cream Corp. filed for bankruptcy in 2011, according to the Wall Street Journal.."

It was a great day. At 12-noon, Westminster Police Officer Terrence McGowan sang the National Anthem as fire equipment surrounded the restaurant and Westminster Fire Department Tower 3 flew the American Flag. 

Vietnam vets were treated to sandwich. Mission BBQ chose to open today - March 29th on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, marking the day U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, disestablished on March 29, 1973.

13th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event

Leslie Krebs-White, the community educator at Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County, https://www.rapecrisiscc.org/ has been in touch with the CC NAACP branch and asked that we help spread the word about a popular fundraiser - the 13th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.

Since 1978 RCIS has provided free counseling and support services to victims of sexual violence and their families. RCIS also offers prevention education programs and professional training. Rape Crisis provides a 24-hour hot line and therapy services to both male and female victims of sexual violence. All services are free and confidential. Every dollar donated makes a huge difference in a survivor’s healing journey at RCIS.

The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event helps provide awareness to these valuable services in our community.

Please see the attached flyer and visit www.walkamilecc.org for more information. 

Ms. Krebs-White reported, “We are also looking for sponsors if you know anyone who may be interested. Thank you so much for all your help…” 

Sincerely, Leslie Krebs-White, Community Educator 

Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County

https://www.rapecrisiscc.org/ 

224 North Center Street, Room 102

Westminster, MD  21157

24-hour crisis hotline: 410.857.7322

Office:  410.857.0900

Disclosure: Yup – in full disclosure I have helped support RCIS, anonymously as a private citizen, as a public official and as a fire and police chaplain since the days in which it was known as the “The Carroll County Sexual Assault Center,” before it changed its name in 1985 to RCIS. For many years the director of Rape Crisis was a Carroll County Public School classmate of mine, and from time to time I have ghost-written a few articles for the organization. 

On March 25, 1996, I wrote, in part, “Rape Crisis provides a valuable service to the community involving an ugly crime. In an ideal world, such services would not be needed, unfortunately, Rape Crisis provides a needed program in Carroll County. A few of the services that come quickly to mind are: 1.Victim walk-in service. 2. Accompaniment for medical attention, police investigation and court appearances. 3. Individual, group and support group therapy service, 4. 24 Hour hotline, and 5. Community education and professional training. “Rape Crisis provides these valuable counseling, support and advocacy programs for free and maintains a person's ability to seek help anonymously…” 

https://www.facebook.com/ccnaacp/posts/4142110702474241 

+++ Dayhoff Westminster +++

Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.

Carroll County Times: www.tinyurl.com/KED-CCT

Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://tinyurl.com/KED-Sun

Westminster Patch: https://patch.com/users/kevin-e-dayhoff

Facebook Dayhoff for Westminster: https://www.facebook.com/DayhoffforWestminster/

Facebook: Kevin Earl Dayhoff: https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff

Dayhoff for Westminster: www.kevindayhoff.city

Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net

Dayhoff Carroll: www.kevindayhoff.org

Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Time Flies: www.kevindayhoff.info | https://kevindayhoff.wordpress.com/

The snow is just starting to stick to the roads

The snow is just starting to stick to the roads and get slippery. Might be a good time to stay at home and enjoy some time with your family until the storm passes, and the Westminster Street Department and the county and state roads department gets the roadways cleared. Stay safe. Wed. 10:30 PM Feb. 10, 2021

‘Priests on the Roof!’ event on Feb. 4, 2021

Last week on Thursday, January 28, 2021 Donna Jean Shybunko, Father Mark, Jimmy DeWees, and I got together at WTTR to tape a few promotional spots for the 'Priests on the Roof!' event on Feb. 4, 2021. Father Mark climbed up on the roof at 7:30 a.m. on February 4th at St. John Catholic School, and stayed up there until $15,000 was raised for St. John Catholic School's Day of Giving!!" https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff/posts/10221668716120767

Carroll Food Sunday Taneytown

On Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, Caroline and I visited the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery in Taneytown, after we stopped by the Carroll Food Sunday distribution Center to do some after hours maintenance.