MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 15, 2000

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:37 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 meetings of May 1, 2000. Mr. Kirby moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that an executive session was held on May 1, 2000 at 8:07 p.m. pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The entire Mayor and Council were present and voted unanimously to go into executive session. The meeting was called to discuss a legal matter and no action was taken. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m. and minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey announced that the Mayor and Council has cash on hand and in banks of $540,054.91.

Mayor Bailey stated Amy Warner from the Kent County Health Department who requested permission speak about inhalant abuse. Ms. Warner said she was the substance abuse prevention coordinator and worked at Publick House. She discussed various types of household substances which are used by kids as inhalants and the serious effects they have. She gave the figures on Kent County school children, beginning with sixth graders, who have used inhalants. Inhalants are the fourth most common drug that teens will experiment with. She said it was a gateway drug and came after alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana. She said any one who wanted further information could contact her at Publick House at 410-778-2616.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll read a permit request from the Chester River Craft and Art to hold a community event on Sunday, June 25, 2000 from noon to 5 p.m. They are requesting permission to block the upper part of the 300 bl. of Cannon Street. Mr. Ingersoll asked Mr. Thielke what time they would shoot off the cannon. Mr. Thielke said he did not know but would advise the police department when it would take place. Mr. Bristoll moved that the permit request be granted, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll read a permit request from Pastor Ronald Fisher of the Gospel Church of God to hold teen youth challenge rallies on Sat. May 20, Sat. July 1, and Sat. August 26, 2000 from 4 to 7 p.m. The activities will include games, singing, music from a Gospel DJ and food. The request was to block the street at the corner of Calvert and Lynchburg Street and half of the upper 400 bl. of Calvert Street. They requested that the Town provide three trash cans. Mr. Bristoll moved that the permit be granted, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll read a permit request from Pastor Donald Blad from the Calvary Chapel of Chestertown, 11015 Augustine Herman Highway. The permit asks permission to use the Fountain Park the first Saturday of each month, 8 a.m. to noon, to give out free coffee, Bibles and Christian literature to the public. Mr. Ingersoll said he talked to the Pastor about this and he would recommend that the Town not grant this type of permit. He said the Town would have to offer that same sort of service to every church that would ask and we cannot do that. He said the previous request was an activity being held by a church in Town on their own site. Pastor Blad said they just wanted to provide a service to the community, the information would just be there for any one who wanted to take it. He suggested that they be permitted to do it on a trial basis and see if there were any problems.

Mayor Bailey said that park was heavily used for various events and the Farm Market was traditionally in the park and very busy. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if there would be a service of any type and could they reduce their time to just an hour maybe 8 a.m. Pastor Blad said there would be no service, he would just give out written materials and give coffee to any one who wished. Mayor Bailey said Mr. Ingersoll made the point about allowing one church group to use the park opening up requests to many more. The Council postponed a decision on the request until the next meeting.

Mr. Ingersoll said we had bid openings for three project on Friday, May 12, 2000. The first bid was for road paving of Pine, Elm, Glen and Bell Avenue in College Heights. One bid was received and it was David A. Bramble with a price per ton of $51.24 and a bid total based on the tonnage total of $62,268.75. Mayor Bailey asked for a motion on the bid. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the street paving bid be awarded to Bramble, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said bids were opened for the sealing of the outside of the north wall of the Town Hall building and storm windows. Two bids were received, one from A & A Restoration, Inc. for $3444.00, and the other from Climate Masters in Sudlersville for $3475.00. He said he had compared the bids and A & A had a bid allowance of $98 per storm window which was higher and their overall bid was lower. He recommended that the low bid be accepted. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the bid be awarded to A & A, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said the third bid opening was for installation of large garage doors at the Cannon Street yard building. He said only one bid was received from Climate Masters, Inc. in the amount of $25,816.00. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the bid be awarded to Climate Masters, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a request from a consortium of electric aggregators to submit information on our electric bills. They are asking large companies or individuals who are interested in saving money on electricity and to get on a list. They are gathering information on what electricity may cost in the future. He recommended that the Town at least sign up with this group and find out what our options might be. The Council had no problem with the Town being on the list.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Council had gotten a letter we sent to the Rotary Club that the Fountain Park would not be considered as a location for a band stand. He said the Committee will study Wilmer Park to see whether a structure would be compatible and what location would be best. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if the Rotary Club had given us any options for anything other than a band stand. Mr. Ingersoll said the Rotary Club wants to donate something that would be structural and permanent, i.e. a bandstand. He said the Waterfront Committee discussed the future use and development of the waterfront park and the Town can look at their recommendations.

Mr. Ingersoll reported that in the first 4 months of this year, there have been 141,000 hits on the Kent County, Chestertown and Rock Hall home pages of the internet.

Mr. Ingersoll introduced the Budget for 2000-2001 as Ordinance #1-00. He said a public hearing on the budget will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2000. He said the projected revenues will be $2,453,808 and revenues will be the same for a balanced budget. The budget was based on keeping the same tax rate of $.90 per $100. of assessed value. He said the Utilities Commission budget had revenues of $878,452 and expenditures of $999,851 with $121,399 funded by depreciation. He discussed the capital items included in next year's budget. The full budget will be discussed at the public hearing on June 5, 2000.

Mayor Bailey said she had received several letters from the State Highway Administration in response to some of her requests. She said the State will be installing a crosswalk across Rt. 291 just before Roses. They will do a study in mid-June of the entrances and exits at Washington Square and report back to the Council. They will also review the signal timing at Spring and Maple Avenue. Mr. Ingersoll said the State's letter was unclear, but there will also be a crosswalk from the People's Bank side across Rt. 213 so pedestrians can use the sidewalk up to the crosswalk at Roses to get into the shopping center.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Music in the Park concert series will begin on Saturday, June 3 with the Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band. The concerts will be every other Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Fountain Park.

Mayor Bailey reminded everyone of the Chestertown Garden Party on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. sponsored by the Beautification Committee.

Mayor Bailey announced the opening of an exhibition at the Chestertown Bank Gallery on Thursday, May 18, 2000 from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit will be photographs taken by Heather Davidson.

Mayor Bailey requested an executive session following the meeting to discuss a contractual matter. Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland for a contractual matter, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said the County Commissioners as asking for nominations for the fourth annual volunteers awards. Please submit nominations to the County Commissioners office.

Mayor Bailey read an invitation to the 30th anniversary of Magnolia Hall Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Wednesday, May 24, 2000 at 2:30 p.m.

Mayor Bailey read a list of new businesses - Blue Plate now open for dinner Friday and Saturday; Kent Cabinetry on S. Cross Street; Chestertown Cooking now located next to the Blue Plate; Primary Colors Salon at 107 S. Cross Street; Urs Hilfiker, Architect, on Cannon Street; Home and Hearth fireplaces and appliances at the old Sutton's Stationers; and Cornucopia moving to Lucinda's old shop.

Mayor Bailey said the drawings for the public pier on Cannon Street were ready. She gave the dates of all the meetings when the pier had been discussed by the public and Mayor and Council over the last two years. Mr. Ingersoll said the pier had not changed in size but Mr. Lutrell had completed the drawings of the public portions of the pier. He said that three transient docks and a dinghy dock were shown. He said the total cost to build would be between $80,000 and $100,000. He said the Town still has approximately $37,000 remaining from the pier grant which we now understand can be transferred to this project. He said he asked for funds last June or July for repairing the bulkheading at Wilmer Park.

Mr. Ingersoll said if the Council votes to proceed with the pier, the next step will be to apply to the Army Corps of Engineers for a permit. He said we can pursue more grant funding but nothing has been budgeted other than the remaining grant funds from the previous pier grant. Mr. Kirby asked if the cost stated included bulkheading or dredging. Mr. Ingersoll said no, the bulkheading would cost from $80-100,000 and there will have to be some dredging for the public area. He said the cost of dredging will be about $100,000 and the hard part will be finding a location for the spoils.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions. Mrs. Regester asked about future use for things such as the Pride of Baltimore for the Tea Party or private dinner cruises. Mark Mumford said he could answer for the Tea Party. He said once the Sultana was completed and at the pier their committee would no longer have to hire a vessel for the Tea Party Festival. Mr. Ingersoll said private dinner cruise ships have used the foot of High Street in the past.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to approve the remaining portion of the pier and apply for permits to the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Bristoll moved that the public section of the pier be approved and was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz. The vote was 4 in favor, Mr. Kirby opposed.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she attended the unveiling of the Municipal League book in Annapolis and stated copies would be available in all libraries in the State.

Mark Mumford read the list of activities for this year's Tea Party Festival on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28, 2000. He thanked the Town for all the assistance their committee receives from the Town crews and staff.

Mr. Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:50 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.