The Aberdeen City Council agreed at its Monday night meeting to allow the refinancing of as much as $10 million the city owes on Ripken Stadium, City Hall and the city's maintenance.

City manager Doug Miller noted the legislation would not add any debt, just allow existing debt to be refinanced.

The council also voted to disband the Ripken Stadium management board, which Miller said was originally designed to promote the stadium, reserve dates for activities and take care of the facility.

"Most of those duties have been given back to Ripken," he said. "The concern has been that we are taking the time of a very talented group of people to sit in on activities that really have been delegated away."

He also said, however, all the board members will not really be gone. The city plans to return with a smaller group that will oversee the physical plant, "which really has been done by a subcommittee of the RSMB. We would ask those people to come back," Miller said.

The council likewise disbanded the swim center advisory committee, which Miller said never met.

"It really has not met and does not have a purpose," he said.

Park complaint

Bob Hartman, of Paradise Road, suggested during the public comment period that Festival Park be cleaned up, now that the city installed new LED lights around it.

"How about cleaning it up, getting the vulgar language out, the drinking, the drugs?" he said. "The vulgar language and everything else is just ridiculous. Move the homeless maybe to the police station to get picked up for their meals instead of congregating over there."

"When we have festivities at the park, can we let the businesses in the area know?" he asked. "The permits start at eight o'clock in the morning, and some only have half-days on Saturdays and they don't know what's going on in the park. Let's get our town in a little better appearance."

Public works director Matt Lapinsky clarified that the city did not spend money on the LED lights around the park, because they will all be paid for by a grant.

9/11 ceremony

Several council members talked about the 9/11 ceremony held by the city Sunday morning, which brought out about 85 people despite a last-minute announcement.

Bennett said Sunday he thought it was so successful he hoped the city would hold the ceremony every year.

Councilwoman Sandra Landbeck said she saw an article recently talking about how America doesn't need to always be Number 1, and she realized during the ceremony that real heroes don't seek to be Number 1.

"There was never a Number 1. It was really a team," Landbeck said. "I for one am really glad to work with a group of people who never really have to be Number 1. It's always a team effort."

"One of the things I thought was very interesting in the ceremony we had is the mayor chose to wear a fire uniform and be identified as a fireman, not as the mayor," she added.

Councilman Bruce Garner also said the 9/11 ceremony Sunday morning was very nice.

"You could tell that everyone who came out really cared," he said.

Other action

The council approved the purchase of as many as two pick-up trucks by the public works department. Apple Ford in Columbia had the winning bid at $35,840.

A resolution was passed supporting an effort to get Aberdeen certified for the Sustainable Maryland program.

Bennett said a "green" committee will be formed to assess the city's environmental needs and urged any interested residents to contact him.

He also announced Monday would be Flowers by Lucy Day in recognition of the local business that has been providing flowers for City Hall at no charge every week.

"It just kind of brightens up the room," he said. "We just felt it was high time these folks got recognition…We can't thank you enough."