City Council

CITY OF ABERDEEN Council Meeting December 15, 2025 A) CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. B) ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Patrick McGrady Council President Adam Hiob Councilman William Montgomery, III Councilwoman Tandra Ridgley Councilman Darin Wassum Also Present: Phyllis Grover, Director of Planning and Community Development; Opiribo Jack, Director of Finance; Henry Trabert, Chief of Police; Monica Correll, City Clerk C) OPENING PRAYER The opening prayer was given by Pastor Don Dove, Living Hope Presbyterian Church. D) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Darin Wassum. E) APPROVAL OF MINUTES E.1 October 13, 2025 Council Meeting 2025-10-13 Council Meeting Minutes.pdf E.2 October 27, 2025 Council Meeting 2025-10-27 Council Meeting Minutes.pdf A motion was made by Council President Hiob and seconded by Councilwoman Ridgley to approve the minutes of the October 13, 2025 Council Meeting and the October 27, 2025 Council Meeting. The motion carried by a vote of 4 – yes; 0 – no. Ayes: Council President Hiob, Councilman Montgomery, Councilwoman Ridgley, Councilman Wassum Nays: None 2025-12-15 Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 F) STATEMENT OF CLOSED MEETING - None G) PRESENTATIONS G.1 FY 2025 Audit Report by Auditors, SB & Company, LLC City of Aberdeen Presentation by SB Company - 12-15-25.pptx Stephen Mackall, CPA, SB Company, LLC, Concurring Partner, summarized the scope of services, audit approach, assessment of control environment, evaluation of key processes, financial statement highlights, and required communications. They issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements. They discovered no instances of fraud and discovered no material weakness in internal controls. He reported that they received full cooperation from the City's management. G.2 Christmas Street Presentations - Vickie Horne, Aberdeen Main Street Coordinator Christmas Street Winners Presentation List.pdf The Mayor and Vickie Horne, Aberdeen Main Street Coordinator, presented the awards to the 2025 48th Christmas Street Parade participants. The Council called a short recess for the Christmas Street holiday cookie reception. H) PUBLIC HEARINGS - None I) PUBLIC COMMENT Josh Broth, 408 Grasmere Drive: Mr. Broth commented that the middle school traditional sleighing area has had trees planted on it. Cliff Okoth, 236 Point To Point Square, Bel Air, MD: Mr. Okoth announced World Financial Group's commitment to help educate the public on financial health. Robert Hartman, 226 Paradise Road: Mr. Hartman asked for the State of the City address to be delivered in January. J) LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION J.1 Ordinance No. 25-O-16, Development Code Revision (For Introduction) (Sponsors: Council President Hiob and Councilman Wassum) [1st meeting] Ordinance No. 25-O-16, Development Code Revision with Exhibits.pdf A motion was made by Council President Hiob and seconded by Councilman Wassum to introduce Ordinance No. 25-O-16, Development Code Revision. The motion carried by a vote of 4 – yes; 0 – no. 2025-12-15 Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 Ayes: Council President Hiob, Councilman Montgomery, Councilwoman Ridgley, Councilman Wassum Nays: None K) PENDING LEGISLATION - None L) UNFINISHED BUSINESS L.1 Council Rules of Procedure Proposed Updates to the Council Rules of Procedure.pdf Council President Hiob and Councilman Montgomery explained the changes to the Council Rules of Procedure: on page 1, under I. Meetings – General Information, A. 2. add following sentence: All Work Sessions, except when subject to a Closed Meeting, shall utilize video conferencing platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, with live streaming activation. On page 5, under VII. Liaisons C., following number 12 add: 13. Heritage Trust. A motion was made by Councilman Montgomery and seconded by Councilman Wassum to adopt Council Rules of Procedure amendments. The motion carried by a vote of 0 – yes; 0 – no. Ayes: Council President Hiob, Councilman Montgomery, Councilwoman Ridgley, Councilman Wassum Nays: None M) NEW BUSINESS M.1 Council Liaison Appointments Aberdeen Council Liaison Appointments - Dec. 2025.pdf Council President Hiob read the following Council liaison appointments for nomination: Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce: Councilman Montgomery. Aberdeen Fire Department: Council President Hiob. Aberdeen Heritage Trust: Councilman Montgomery, Council President Hiob – Alternate. Aberdeen Historical Museum: Council President Hiob. Aberdeen Proving Ground: Councilman Montgomery. Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford & Cecil Counties Aberdeen Branch: Councilwoman Ridgley. Economic Development Commission: Councilwoman Ridgley. Mayor McGrady also attends. Harford County Council: Councilman Montgomery. Harford County Public Schools: Councilwoman Ridgley. Maryland General Assembly: Council President Hiob, Councilwoman Ridgley. Parks & Recreation Board: Councilman Wassum. Planning Commission: Councilman Wassum, Council President Hiob – Alternate. 2025-12-15 Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 Council President Hiob nominated the Council liaison appointments. The nomination carried by a vote of 4 – yes; 0 – no. Ayes: Council President Hiob, Councilman Montgomery, Councilwoman Ridgley, Councilman Wassum Nays: None M.2 Final Subdivision Plat revised for 502 Pulaski Highway (For Approval) 502 Pulaski Highway - Final Plat Jeff Mathai, P.E., Morris & Ritchie Associates, Inc. and the owner of the property, Basem Atih, were present. The site was located off of U.S. Route 40 and Beards Hills Road extended. The Council had approved of the preliminary site plan for the proposed two-story building (3,330 square feet, zoned B3, highway commercial for auto sales) at their December 2024 meeting. The Planning Commission approved the final subdivision plat at their November, 2025 meeting. A fence permit was needed and the City would need to approve this. Council discussion followed. A motion was made by Councilwoman Ridgley and seconded by Councilman Wassum to approve the final subdivision plat revised for 502 Pulaski Highway. The motion carried by a vote of 0 – yes; 0 – no. Ayes: Council President Hiob, Councilman Montgomery, Councilwoman Ridgley, Councilman Wassum Nays: None M.3 Preliminary Site Plan for Aberdeen Xchange Lots 2 & 3 (For Approval) Aberdeen Xchange Lots 2 & 3 - Preliminary Site 10.28.25.pdf Tom Miner, professional engineer, Frederick Ward Associates, was present. The Planning Commission reviewed the plan in November, 2024. The proposed building was 23,000 square feet with about half of it occupied by Mr. Clean and the rest would be flex space. He discussed that storm water management was being worked out, the traffic impact study was approved, there was sufficient water and sewer, it was zoned B3 highway commercial, and the property was 1.8 acres in total. Council discussion followed. A motion was made by Council President Hiob and seconded by Councilman Montgomery to approve the preliminary site plan for Aberdeen Xchange Lots 2 & 3. The motion carried by a vote of 0 – yes; 0 – no. Ayes: Council President Hiob, Councilman Montgomery, Councilwoman Ridgley, Councilman Wassum Nays: None N) UPDATES FROM STAFF 2025-12-15 Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 Vickie Horne, Main Street Coordinator, reported on the Christmas Street Parade and that the new parade route was successful. O) PUBLIC COMMENT Robert Hartman, 226 Parade Road: Mr. Hartman suggested upgrades to the furniture and electronics in the upstairs conference room. Beth Boyson, 631 Westwood Drive: Ms. Boyson thanked Vickie Horne and her associates for running the parade and Christmas Street events. Maria Montgomery, 544 Beards Hill Road: Ms. Montgomery asked that a representative for each department be present on the dais. P) BUSINESS OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL (with Liaison Reports) The Council discussed grand openings for new businesses in Aberdeen, holiday meetings/celebrations, the Christmas Street parade/events, committee activities, financial reporting, economic development, development code work, pedestrian improvements, Maryland General Assembly activities, Aberdeen Fire Department updates, County Emergency Shelter plans, etc. The Mayor announced that he planned to present a two-year plan to the Council. Q) ANNOUNCEMENTS The Mayor made the following announcements: Economic Development Commission, Wed., Dec. 17, Council Chambers, 8:30 a.m. Heritage Trust Meeting, Thursday, Dec. 18, Council Chambers, 6:30 p.m. City Hall Closed Thursday, December 25, in observance of Christmas. Regular Council Meeting, Monday, January 12, Council Chambers, 7 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting, Wednesday, January 14, Council Chambers, 6 p.m. R) CLOSED MEETING - None. S) ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m. City Clerk