At Havre de Grace's first city council meeting of 2012 held Tuesday because of Monday's New Year's holiday, City Councilman James Miller raised question about a forest conservation ordinance he introduced during the council's Dec. 19 meeting.

The city council held a very short public hearing before the scheduled meeting Tuesday, when council members and residents had a chance to speak about ordinance No. 925, which would require more regulation when there's an increase in cutting down what passes for forests in the city. The ordinance also includes standards for protecting trees from construction activities.

During the Dec.19 meeting, the ordinance was cleared for a first reading and it was decided then that there would be a public hearing before it would be voted upon during the council's Jan. 17 meeting. No one in the audience commented.

City Councilman Fred Cullum said the council had received "editorial comments" from former council president Joe Kochenderfer, who still frequently attends meetings, and will "check them all."

Miller said the city's planning commission looked at the ordinance, which was "copied verbatim from a sample ordinance the state recommended."

Several definitions, he continued, were left out, however, including those for agricultural support buildings and who would be the approving authority.

"Do we need to spell that out?" he asked the other council members. He also questioned if the city had the staff resources to conduct a "field inspection," though it wasn't clear to which section of the ordinance he was referencing.

A few council members pointed out that Miller might have based his edits and questions on a first copy of the ordinance and not a revision that the rest had.

Mayor Wayne Dougherty asked Miller to share his observations and edits with City Attorney Paul Ishak.

Also during Tuesday's Havre de Grace City Council meeting:

PFC Aaron Sandruck, of the Havre de Grace Police Department, was named Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by VFW Post 8126 in Havre de Grace. The mayor and city council members thanked Sandruck, and his family who was present, for his work and dedication to the city.

Dr. William Russell was appointed an alternate member of the city's planning commission.

Joe Gamatoria was reappointed as a member to the street and traffic safety advisory board.