Westminster council approves $100,000 not-to-exceed valve-bolt award, waives Main Street parking meters for holidays
November 25, 2025 | Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland
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The Westminster Mayor and Common Council on Nov. 24 approved three formal actions: a not-to-exceed $100,000 award to Mid Atlantic Utilities Inc. for replacement of substandard valve bonnet bolts in the city water distribution system; a waiver of Main Street parking-meter fees from Dec. 1 through Dec. 25 with a three-hour limit; and a motion to adjourn into a closed session to discuss personnel matters under the Annotated Code of Maryland.
City staff told the council that valves installed in the late 1990s through 2007 contain ‘‘substandard bonnet bolt materials’’ and that the phased replacement project is now in its fourth year. Four bids were received; the lowest bid was $135,825 from Mid Atlantic Utilities Inc. Staff recommended acceptance of Mid Atlantic Utilities Inc. but explained the fiscal year 2026 capital budget funds $100,000 for the project and that the city will replace only the number of bolts that can be purchased with the current allocation.
During discussion, a council member asked how many bolts remain and whether the replacement should be accelerated. Staff replied the project is expected to continue for multiple years and that using in-house crews reduces costs compared with hiring a contractor. A different council member asked about the wide variance among bidders; staff said references were checked and they are comfortable recommending the lowest bidder.
The council voted by voice to approve the not-to-exceed $100,000 award to Mid Atlantic Utilities Inc.; the meeting record notes ‘‘ayes’’ but does not include a roll-call tally.
On parking, staff recommended reviving a prior holiday practice and waiving meters on Main Street for the first 25 days of December to encourage downtown shopping. The waiver includes a three-hour time limit and mirrors action the council took previously in 2021. Council members said meters are approximately net neutral for city revenue and favored the temporary waiver; the motion passed by voice vote.
A council member moved and the council approved adjourning into a closed meeting on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, after the regular meeting ‘‘in accordance with General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland’’ to discuss employment and personnel matters. The statutory citation was read aloud during the motion.
What happens next: the valve-bolt purchase will be limited by the $100,000 FY26 allocation, with staff indicating additional replacement will continue in later budget years. The parking-meter waiver takes effect Dec. 1 and runs through Dec. 25; the council also scheduled the closed session as stated on the record.
Provenance: Staff report and bid details (staff presentation), bid discussion and vote, parking-meter proposal and vote, and the closed-session motion appear in the meeting transcript (topic introduction through discussion and votes).
City staff told the council that valves installed in the late 1990s through 2007 contain ‘‘substandard bonnet bolt materials’’ and that the phased replacement project is now in its fourth year. Four bids were received; the lowest bid was $135,825 from Mid Atlantic Utilities Inc. Staff recommended acceptance of Mid Atlantic Utilities Inc. but explained the fiscal year 2026 capital budget funds $100,000 for the project and that the city will replace only the number of bolts that can be purchased with the current allocation.
During discussion, a council member asked how many bolts remain and whether the replacement should be accelerated. Staff replied the project is expected to continue for multiple years and that using in-house crews reduces costs compared with hiring a contractor. A different council member asked about the wide variance among bidders; staff said references were checked and they are comfortable recommending the lowest bidder.
The council voted by voice to approve the not-to-exceed $100,000 award to Mid Atlantic Utilities Inc.; the meeting record notes ‘‘ayes’’ but does not include a roll-call tally.
On parking, staff recommended reviving a prior holiday practice and waiving meters on Main Street for the first 25 days of December to encourage downtown shopping. The waiver includes a three-hour time limit and mirrors action the council took previously in 2021. Council members said meters are approximately net neutral for city revenue and favored the temporary waiver; the motion passed by voice vote.
A council member moved and the council approved adjourning into a closed meeting on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, after the regular meeting ‘‘in accordance with General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland’’ to discuss employment and personnel matters. The statutory citation was read aloud during the motion.
What happens next: the valve-bolt purchase will be limited by the $100,000 FY26 allocation, with staff indicating additional replacement will continue in later budget years. The parking-meter waiver takes effect Dec. 1 and runs through Dec. 25; the council also scheduled the closed session as stated on the record.
Provenance: Staff report and bid details (staff presentation), bid discussion and vote, parking-meter proposal and vote, and the closed-session motion appear in the meeting transcript (topic introduction through discussion and votes).
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