MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., W. Whaland Clark, Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, Police Chief Wayne Bradley, W. S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Joan Merryman, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes of the meeting of January 18, 2000 be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey called on the Police Chief for his report. Chief Bradley gave the annual report for the year ended December 31, 1999. He gave highlights from the annual report. He said that there had been a 98% decrease in calls over 1998; crime was down 29% over the previous year; they closed 64% of their cases; and recovered 73% of stolen property. The breakdown for crimes by ward was: Ward 1 - five crimes; Ward 2 - 65 crimes; Ward 3 94 crimes; and Ward 4 - 83 crimes. In the Hot Spot area there were 33 crimes which was about one-third of the total in the 3rd Ward. Chief Bradley said in law enforcement, when crime goes up and things are not well, the police department gets blamed. He said when crime was down, no one usually says anything. He said he wanted to personally thank the members of his department for a job well done. He said they had good statistics for a small department.

Mayor Bailey said she agreed and thanked the Police Department and said it was a wonderful decrease in the crime figures.

Chief Bradley said recently there had been three robberies at the Super Soda store. He said the other night within five minutes after the robbery was called in they caught the suspect with the assistance of a citizen who held the person until the Police arrived. He said they hope they will be able to clear other cases as a result of this arrest.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked what the policy was on parking violations, specifically a car parked which overhangs the corner. She said that makes it dangerous for another car going around the corner. Chief Bradley said they had written quite a few parking tickets for illegal parking. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said another problem which continues was the drivers who go the wrong way on Poplar Street and the one-way section of Lynchburg Street. She said the person going the wrong way usually drives faster and it makes it more dangerous particularly for children. She asked that the officers be more strict on that.

Mr. Kirby asked about the figure in the annual report for accidents and asked if 213 was correct. Chief Bradley said it was correct, they respond to a lot of accidents, many not serious but they do respond. Mr. Kirby said he was curious if that was an increase. Chief Bradley said he will check on those figures.

Mayor Bailey read a Proclamation Declaring the Month of March Red Cross Month in Chestertown. The Proclamation was signed by the Council.

Mayor Bailey called on Arlene Lee of the Local Management Board. Ms. Lee handed out a summary of the Hot Spot Program and stated that under Phase II they had been able to get funding for all except two programs. She said they expect those two programs will be funded. She reviewed the various elements and discussed the programs of each. She said in Phase II funding was received for Code enforcement which will allow the Town to address debris and abandoned properties. She said the summer recreation program and after school program at Garnett will be expanded and will cover the after school program at the Middle School. Mr. Kirby asked if that was restricted to children from the Hot Spot area only. Ms. Lee said it was not. She said the reason it can be covered under Hot Spots was that Chestertown was the only Middle School that serves Hot Spots children but it was open to all children. He asked what portion of the $30,000 budgeted for that program goes to salaries and overtime. Ms. Lee said a portion goes to the salary of the director of the program, a portion goes to contract workers who provide programming, and a portion goes to teachers who tutor. Mr. Kirby asked what percentage goes the $64,000 goes to pay salaries or contracts. Ms. Lee said one-third and then there are supplies, field trips, transportation costs, etc.

Ms. Lee said that a Statewide report had been done on families and children and the Horizons program had been highlighted in that report. She gave a copy of the report to the Mayor and Council.

Mayor Bailey called on Judy Berry representing the Kent County Community Center Committee. Ms. Berry said they would like to bring their committee architect to the February 22 meeting for the first phase of the community center to the February 22 meeting. She said they will invite representatives of all agencies to each of the Town meetings to seek additional comment and information from the Towns and the public. She gave the Council a draft of a basic floor plan prepared by Becker Morgan Moore Olds & Richter, Inc. of Salisbury. Mayor Bailey said anyone in the Chestertown community interested should attend the next meeting on Tuesday, February 22, beginning right after the Utilities Meeting.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll reported that the Department of Housing and Community Development has released the funds for the Family Support Center. He said that SOS will be buying the High Street property within the next sixty days.

Mr. Ingersoll said he wanted to comment on the winter storm. He said the Street crew has eight people. He said everyone in Town was very patient for about a week with the way we cleared the streets and handled the snow and then some became impatient. He said we cannot physically remove all the snow from Town but they have been cleaning up streets and parking areas. He said the Town needs to look into getting a smaller piece of equipment for the older narrow streets will parking on both sides, such as Water Street, Queen Street and Kent Street. He said they will look into something like a 4 wheel drive vehicle that could handle a plow on the front. He said we do not buy new trucks but hand-me-downs from State, which our mechanic keeps in good shape. He said we had four plows running with four drivers clearing 27 miles of road in Town. He said with the Council's permission he would like to discuss giving each of the Street crew another day off at another time since they worked so long and hard. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Street crew members may take a day when needed, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey reminded the public that there was a Town Ordinance that requires that snow be removed from sidewalk 24 hours after a snowfall. She said pedestrians are having to walk in the street. She said the responsibility to remove snow was the property owner's and failure to do so may result in a fine.

Mr. Clark asked about huge piles at snow at corners that people have to walk around. Mr. Ingersoll said in the downtown we have tried to carve some of that up. He said the DCA paid for sidewalk clearing in the downtown. He said there are state intersections where there are 10 or 15 feet of snow and no property owner would be responsible to try to remove that. He said 18-20" of snow you need a different set of rules. He said if people have problems they should call us if we have left an 8' mound on a corner. Mayor Bailey said it would be helpful if there are people who do shoveling or plowing would let us know and we will keep a list in the Town Hall. She said we could then advise callers of people who do that type of work, either kids who shovel or people with plows.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Council had received the Annual Report of the Planning Commission. He said we need a motion to forward that report to the Department of State Planning. Mr. Clark moved that the Planning Commission Annual Report be accepted and forwarded to the State, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll requested an executive session following the meeting to discuss a cell phone request to locate on a tower. Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held following the meeting pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said at the last meeting she nominated Marsha Fritz to fill Mr. Clark's unexpired term on the Planning Commission. She asked for a motion on that appointment. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if the names were being put up now for a vote at the next meeting. She said she made that request at the last meeting. Mayor Bailey said that she and Mrs. Mumford-Pautz had talked between meetings. Mayor Bailey said the names had been put up for appointment at the last meeting and she would like a vote. Mr. Bristoll moved that Marsha Fritz be appointed to fill the unexpired term on the Planning Commission and was seconded by Mr. Clark.

Mayor Bailey asked if there was any discussion. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would not vote on them at this meeting per her request at the previous meeting. Mayor Bailey said there was no reason not to go forward because the appointments need to be made and it followed the procedure that had been done in the past. The vote on the motion was 4 in favor, Mrs. Mumford-Pautz abstained.

Mayor Bailey said that Paul Boertlein's name was taken off of the list of reappointments to the Historic District Commission. He had submitted a letter stating that because of time restraints in his job, he would no longer be able to serve on the Commission.

Mayor Bailey said that at the last meeting she asked for the reappointment of David Sandebeck and Evie Castillo to the Ethics Commission retroactive to July 1, 1999. Mr. Bristoll moved for the reappointments to the Ethics Commission and was seconded by Mr. Clark. Mr. Kirby said due to the earlier meeting, he wondered if that vote should be held until the matter was discussed with the Town Attorney. Mayor Bailey said she will get more information on that matter and bring it up at the next meeting. Mr. Bristoll withdrew his motion and Mr. Clark withdrew the second.

Mayor Bailey said she asked for reappointments for three year terms on the Historic District Commission as follows: Kees deMooy to expire 1/1/2001, Robert Tyson to expire 1/1/2002 and Patsy Hornaday to expire 3/1/2002. Mr. Bristoll moved that all three reappointments be made as stated and was seconded by Mr. Clark. Mayor Bailey asked for discussion on the motion. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she wanted to discuss the attitude of the representatives on the Historic District Commission regarding residential properties. She said she attended the last meeting in which there was a lengthy discussion about a storm door and that discussion led to the significance of properties in Town. She said she felt it was her responsibility to say to whomever serves on the Commission that one property was just as important as any other and all rules should be followed accordingly.

Mr. Kirby asked if it would be possible to vote on these reappointments separately. Mayor Bailey said if the mover wanted to retire the motion he could or they would vote on all three. Mr. Bristoll said he would modify the motion to vote first on Kees deMooy and was seconded by Mr. Clark. The vote was 4 in favor, Mrs. Mumford-Pautz abstained.

Mr. Bristoll moved that Patsy Hornaday be reappointed to the Historic District Commission and was seconded by Mr. Clark. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said Mrs. Hornaday stalls the Commission by elaborating at great length and some of the other members find it difficult to work with Patsy. The vote on the motion was 3 in favor, Mr. Kirby opposed and Mrs. Mumford-Pautz abstained.

Mayor Bailey said she had given packets to the Council and at the next meeting she would like to appoint John Seidel to the Historic District Commission. She said there were now two vacancies. She said she will take the vote on the appointment at the next meeting.

Mayor Bailey asked that the March Council meeting be moved from Monday, March 6 to Monday, March 13, 2000 as she will be out of Town on the 6th. The Council agreed.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mr. Clark said he would like to discuss the date for the Town elections. He said the Town's election date of the second Monday in December was confusing for the public. He said he found it difficult to get to see people. He said there seemed to be conflict with the holidays and voters were not clear on the fact that election day was on Monday rather than Tuesday (like state and national elections). He said he would like to find out how involved it would be to change the Town election date to coincide with the November Tuesday dates for state and national elections. Mayor Bailey said she concurred that people do not remember a Monday election date. She asked Mr. Ingersoll to explore the possibilities and report back to the Council. Mr. Kirby said he had no problems with it. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she did not think it was necessary that those who set the Charter has a reason for setting it as they did and she saw no reason to change it.

Mr. Ingersoll said other than more people knowing about the election, the real advantage would be the cost savings. He said we budget about $1000 every two years for a Town election. He said he looked at this matter recently and said it would take five or six years to implement. He said terms would either have a year added to each one or a year taken off. He said we have staggered elections and are on the off year for national and state elections, which was why it would take so many years to finalize.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills. Mr. Bristoll moved that the bills be paid as presented. Mr. Kirby said he would second the motion, but he had a question about a couple of items which he would discuss during the executive session as they involved personnel also. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Mr. Kirby moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:15 p.m., was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey
Mayor