MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 17, 2000

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 8:45 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., W. Whaland Clark, Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, 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. Clark moved that the minutes of the meeting of April 3, 2000 be approved as written, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Mayor and Council has cash on hand and in banks of $627,699.33.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Arbor Day celebration will be on Tuesday, April 25, not April 18 as previously announced. He said the ceremony will be held at 400 High Street. He read the locations and times when tree seedlings will be available through the County.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a letter from the State Highway Administration about the need for signage for school bus stops on Morgnec Road. The State has determined there was a need for a sign on the eastbound side of Rt. 291 and the sign should be in place by mid-April. Mr. Ingersoll said he understood the sign has been installed. He said there has been a real team effort and with much cooperation the school bus was now going into Chestertown Landing and picking up 15 children. He said the radar board has been up and we have gotten a letter from Sheriff Price pledging their cooperation and help when they can. He said we have contacted the Maryland State Police and have gotten their cooperation also. He said there has been improved communication between the bus drivers and the police and hopefully the problems with drivers speeding or going around school buses will be stopped.

Mr. Ingersoll distributed the budget schedule for the coming year. He said the preliminary budget would be presented on May 1, 2000. He said the Council needs to decide on the date and time for the workshop meeting which was tentatively scheduled at 5 p.m. before the regular meeting on May 15. The Council agreed to have the workshop meeting at 5 p.m. before the meeting on the 15th.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a request from Nextel for a ground lease space at the Bell Atlantic tower. He said the contract would be for the same amount as the two other colocaters on the tower. He said Bell Atlantic Mobile was now Crown Castle International. He said our lease states the Town may approve others on the tower when the company comes through Bell Atlantic (Crown Castle). Crown Castle would like to manage the requests and not have the leases done through the Town. He said the Town should not give up this control. He said Crown Cable talks to other companies before they come to us for a gound lease so they should know how much space they have left.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to grant the tower lease to NexTell. Mr. Clark made the motion and was seconded by Mr. Bristoll. Mr. Kirby said he would be in favor of increasing the rates as we were the only tower in Town. Mr. Ingersoll said if we continue to get pressure from Crown Cable to control the ground leases, he would suggest we start again and increase the rates and maintain the control of the tower locations. The motion was carried by unanimous votes.

Mr. Ingersoll announced that there will be a hazardous household waste collection on Sunday, April 30, 2000 from 10 to 3 in Centreville at Rt. 301 at 304 west next to the Centreville Middle School. For information people may call 410-758-6605.

Mr. Ingersoll read a memo from Billie Beck, Traffic Control Officer. Officer Beck recommended allowing parking on the east side of N. Mill Street between High and Calvert. She stated that her observation was that this block was not heavily traveled, there was room for two way traffic with parking on both sides, and would make access to 400 High Street easier when their lot was full. He said we were asked earlier to make that block one way. The Council was asked to look at the area before making any decision on the change. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would suggest that no change be made until the library parking lot was made larger and see if there was still a need for parking spaces. Mr. Ingersoll said he had attended several meetings at 400 High Street had no problem being able to park.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that three falling down barns had been removed by Tuck Davidson. He said the street crew had removed several small out buildings under the Hot Spot initiative. He said we are down to two or three small buildings to be done.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions for Mr. Ingersoll. Cookie McClung asked for clarification of a statement in the OCNA newsletter regarding the 18 acre park property. She asked if that was to be site of a community center for children but the site may lose out as the site for the Kent County Civic Center project. Mr. Ingersoll said the Town's plans for the 18 acre park was to develop it slowly with the cooperation of the community and that no civic center was planned there. He said when the site was a full 25 acres the County had begun to consider a community center there. He said in the meantime Upper Shore Aging bought the first 3 acres in the front and the 4 acres in between have not been sold, which chopped the larger site into pieces too small for the large community center being considered by the County.

Mayor Bailey said that the May/June issue of Modern Maturity Magazine has an article on the 50 best places to live and Chestertown is rated #4 in the small town category.

Mayor Bailey read a letter from Davy McCall, Chairman of the Historic District Commission, reporting on the State Heritage Tax Credit Program. People interested in the program can get information and application forms in the Town Office and they will be available at the Historic District Commission meetings.

Mayor Bailey read a Proclamation declaring the month of April 2000 as Fair Housing Month in Chestertown. She said the Chestertown Community Council was sponsoring a tenant/landlord workshop on Saturday, April 29, 2000 at 11 a.m. at Bethel AME Church on College Avenue. Representatives from the Baltimore Neighborhood Association will be there to assist with the workshop.

Mayor Bailey read a letter from Franklin Mench requesting a permit to have the music program at the marina on Tea Party weekend as he has done in the past. His request was to have music until 12:30 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that Mr. Mench be granted permission as requested, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously. Mrs. Gail Regester asked that Mr. Mench be asked to turn the music down at 10:30 p.m.

Mayor Bailey reminded anyone who had not filled out and sent their census form please do so as this affects funding for various services in the community, for example, library funding was based on per capita numbers.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Beautification Committee will sponsor a Gala Garden Party on Saturday, June 10, 2000 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will go on sale May 1 for $25 which includes a box lunch from Play It Again Sam or the Feast of Reason. The lunches may be eaten on the porches of the various host homes.

Mayor Bailey asked that any of the Council interested in attending the Eastern Shore Association Dinner on Tuesday, April 25, 2000 please advise the office. The dinner will be at the Brew River Pub in Salisbury.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she attended the OCNA meeting on Saturday, April 15, 2000 and spoke about the historic tax credit program. She said there were a number of properties that had been purchased in the 500 and 600 blocks of High Street and on College Avenue which had been improved. She said they are trying to get some more fun things for children on the Garnett playground and hopefully children will use that play area rather than play in the street or on others private property.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills. Mr. Bristoll moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Bristoll moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:15 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.