Finance Committee Standing Committee Meeting - November 4, 2026

The Finance Committee of the Annapolis City Council convened at 10:37 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in the City Council Chambers (starting 7 minutes late). The committee approved the agenda and minutes from October 21, 2026, before deliberating on several legislative items and receiving the first quarterly budget update from the Finance Director. The meeting adjourned shortly after the financial update.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the meeting agenda as presented.
• Approval of the Finance Committee meeting minutes from October 21, 2026. (Both approved unanimously on voice votes.)

Discussion Items

Snow Clearing Fees and Fines (R-30-26 and R-44-26)

Alderman Huntley (sponsor) presented two resolutions together. R‑30‑26 corrects a typographical code reference in the existing snow‑clearing fee to allow enforcement; the fee amounts remain unchanged. R‑44‑26 updates the fines schedule for failing to clear sidewalks after a weather event, also with technical code reference corrections. Betsy McCoan, Bureau Chief of Engineering and Construction, confirmed the administrative nature of the fixes. During discussion, it was noted that the underlying ordinance had extended the clearing deadline to 8 hours after a storm (previously 3 hours).

Alderman Roman O’Neill raised concerns about cases where snow plows re‑cover previously cleaned sidewalks, asking how the city would avoid penalizing residents who had already cleared. She also questioned why the fine resolution references three separate code sections, suggesting potential duplication; the committee agreed to ask the city attorney for clarification. Alderman Thorpe highlighted challenges on state‑maintained roads (e.g., Forest Drive, West Street) where larger plows cause repeated coverage, calling for interagency coordination. The chair noted a pending amendment to the underlying ordinance regarding state roads.

After extensive discussion, the committee agreed to postpone both resolutions until the next Finance Committee meeting to allow the underlying ordinance to advance through other committees first. The motion to postpone passed unanimously.

Water Service Agreement (R-35-26)

The committee considered authorizing a water service agreement to extend city water to a property at 3020 Arundel on the Bay Road. Public Works Director Vogel indicated that capacity and pressure analyses were complete and the agreement is financially beneficial. The chair noted that Alderman Savage had submitted a draft amendment concerning the resolution’s language on the director’s determination and public interest finding. Since no final version of the amendment was available, the committee voted on the unamended resolution. A motion for a favorable recommendation passed unanimously, with the understanding that the amendment would be debated by the full Council.

Pay Plan Revision for COLA (R-46-26)

Alderman Huntley described the resolution as aligning the 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for non‑represented and executive pay scales with adjustments already approved for union scales. The adjustment is already covered by a prior fund transfer. The committee approved a favorable recommendation unanimously.

Finance Department Update (ID-7-26)

Finance Director Karen Ajayi presented the first quarter budget‑to‑actual report, a new format requested by the committee. She noted that this was phase one; phase two would include more detailed departmental explanations for variances. Key highlights: the fleet operations fund had spent 57% of its budget, partly due to the city fuel island being out of commission and reliance on more expensive retail fuel. Alderman Thorpe asked whether a supplemental appropriation might be needed; the deputy city manager agreed to monitor the account. Alderman Thorpe also requested that future reports include comparative data from previous quarters to show progress. The chair and committee praised the timeliness and transparency of the report. Director Ajayi also reported that interviews for the budget manager position were ongoing and a decision was expected the following week.

Key Outcomes

• R‑30‑26 and R‑44‑26 (snow clearing fees/fines): Postponed to the next Finance Committee meeting (unanimous).
• R‑35‑26 (water service agreement): Recommended favorably for full Council consideration (unanimous); any amendment will be taken up on the floor.
• R‑46‑26 (pay plan COLA): Recommended favorably for full Council consideration (unanimous).
• Finance Department Update: Received; the director will incorporate quarterly tracking in future reports and coordinate with departments for variance explanations. The committee will continue to monitor fleet operations spending.