TOWN OF BLADENSBURG
COUNCIL MEETING
June 12, 2006

I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor James called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with Council Members Ficklin, George, Mendoza and Watson present.

II. OPENING PRAYER: Council Member Ficklin gave the opening prayer.

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Watson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Council Member Ficklin moved to approve the May Council Meeting minutes as presented. Council Member Mendoza seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

V. RECOGNITION OF FORMER MAYOR MCGRORY: Mayor James recognized Former Mayor McGrory for his service to the Town as both Council Member and Mayor.

VI. AWARD OF FUNDS TO BVFD: The Mayor presented the BVFD Chief with a check for one thousand dollars.

VII. POLICE AWARDS: Chief Moss presented Officers with awards as nominees for Officer of the Year, Municipal Chiefs Association. Additionally, he presented the Code Enforcement Officers with awards for nominees for Civilian of Year.

VIII. WHAT THE FLAG MEANS TO ME: Winners of the essay contest read their entries and received Certificates of Congratulations and fifty dollar Savings Bonds.

IX. MAYOR & COUNCIL REPORTS: Mayor and Council gave updates on the previous months activities, events, and added words to encouragement for community involvement.

X. STAFF REPORTS: Staff gave the updates by Department on monthly activities.

XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Ordinance 4-2006: Second Reading and Vote on FY07 Budget and Tax Rate: After the second reading of the Ordinance by the Town Clerk, Mayor James moved to approved the FY07 Budget and Tax Rate as presented. Council Member Watson seconded the motion. Discussion: Council had some reservations about items in the document. The Attorney advised that the motion could be tabled until after the Council had an opportunity to address these issues. The motion to adopt the budget and tax rate was defeated: Mayor James in favor, Council Members George, Mendoza, and Watson opposed and Council Member Ficklin abstaining.

XII. NEW BUSINESS:

It was moved by Council Member George and seconded by Council Member Mendoza to approve Council Project funds as follows: Council Member Ficklin – $200 for Pastoral Lay Council, $100 for Seven Day Adventist Computer School, $150 for Choices for Success, $50 for AWS. Council Member Mendoza – $500 for Historic Bladensburg Postcards. Council Member George – $300 for BES graduation festivities, $200 for Bostwick. Council Member Watson – $500 for PGC Elected Womens Scholarship Fund. The Motion passed unanimously.

XIII. PUBLIC COMMENT

The Mayor entertained comments from the audience.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, at 8:30 p.m. Council Member Mendoza moved to adjourn; Council Member George seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,
Pat McAuley, Town Clerk