Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:35 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 stated that the Town of Chestertown has cash on hand and in banks of $898,269.71.

Mayor Bailey said before she would call on the Town Manager for his report, she wanted to discuss the proposed charter change to change the Town's election dates. She said the Town did not want the local elections muddied by state or national elections. She said Mr. Bristoll and Mr. Clark suggested that the Town's election date be changed to the first Tuesday in November on the same schedule it has always been and not to realign the elections and have them coincide with the state and national elections. She asked the rest of the Council how they felt about that. She said it would eliminate the two periods of time when elected officials would only serve three year terms. Mr. Kirby said he felt if people really wanted to vote they would come out whether it was November or December or the same as other elections. He said he did not think it would not have been fair for someone to be elected for only three years when the terms had always been four year terms.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked when someone elected in a November election would take office, would it be the same as the Charter now provides which was the first meeting in January. Mr. Ingersoll said that part of the charter would not change. The person elected would take office the first meeting of the new year. The elections would still be on the odd years. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked why the charter change was written to change the terms. Mr. Ingersoll said that was so the Town would not have to hold our own elections as they would be handled along with state or national elections.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council if they approve the change in the date of the Town election as discussed so that the language could be changed in the documents before a public hearing. Mr. Ingersoll said the hearing would have to be advertised so it could be set for the second meeting in January, Tuesday January 16, 2001. Mayor Bailey we will tentatively schedule a public hearing for that meeting for the charter changes.

Mr. Ingersoll said the other charter change he took the matter of the rest of provisions on purchasing contracts to Mr. Barroll for his opinion. Mr. Barroll actually wrote a letter about it in the spring (of 2000) and the Council took action on the wording "may" provide by ordinance by agreeing that the Council will do an ordinance. He said the $3,000 figure still should be increased to $10,000. He said the Town can have an ordinance if they choose, but do not have to. He said Mr. Barroll felt the wording of the charter was fine but the Council may enact an ordinance and must decide on how broad they want the wording. The Council agreed that the amount in that section does need to be increased to $10,000. He said both of those charter changes will be ready in January.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Council had a packet with a petition received from residents of Queen Street received in 1999 asking that a ginko tree be removed because of the odor from the fruit of the tree. He said he took the matter to the Tree Committee got the permit from the State of Maryland to remove the street tree. He said we let the contract and the contractor has now marked the tree for removal. He introduced Pearl Davis, the resident at 114 N. Queen Street.

Ms. Davis said she had Edna Powell with her who was the property owner. Ms. Davis said she and Mrs. Powell would like to make a plea for saving the ginko tree. She said it was a beautiful, old tree that provides a lot of shade in the summer. She said it takes a long time to have a tree grow enough to provide shade as this one does. Mrs. Powell said she knew the tree was over thirty years old. She said when she bought the house there were two trees there and one had been cut down already and she wants to be able to keep this tree. Mayor Bailey asked how long the tree bears fruit. Ms. Davis said the tree bears fruit in the month of October. She said it was true that when the fruit falls and is stepped on, it has a strong odor. Mr. Ingersoll said we could extend the life of the tree if we get help from the community to clean up the fruit on a regular basis. He said we do not like to take down a live tree, but the fruit has to be cleaned up if the tree is to remain. He said there was a real time element involved by the Town crew in cleaning up after a similar tree the Town planted on S. Cross Street. This tree was sold as a male (which would not produce fruit) but after several years it started to produce fruit so it definitely is a female. He said this tree will also be taken down.

Mr. Clark said there was a method of sterilizing trees by using a spray when the blooms appear and that prevents the fruit from growing. He said there was no guarantee that it will work on the ginko tree. The Council agreed that the spraying would be attempted this spring and if it was not successful then the tree would be taken down. Mr. Bristoll asked that a letter be written to the residents who signed the petition for the tree removal advising them of this action by the Council. Mayor Bailey said this will be done.

Mr. Ingersoll reported that the police chief search was going well. He said the Council was interviewing about six of the 39 applicants and then the Council will make a decision shortly.

Mayor Bailey reported on the Christmas Decoration Contest as follows: Residential - 1st Place, 400 Cannon Street; 2nd Place 210 S. Front Street; Residential Apartments - 1st Place, Apt. B202 Kent Crossing; 2nd Place 108 Edge of Town Drive; and Commercial - 1st Place Hill's Inn, 114 Washington Avenue; 2nd Place Sheldon Ross Hair, 113 S. Cross Street. Mayor Bailey thanked everyone in Town for the decorations and thanked the Beautification Committee for their judging.

Mayor Bailey read an invitation to the Kent and Queen Anne's Rescue Squad Annual Dinner on Saturday, January 13, 2001 at the Frank M. Jarman American Legion at 6 p.m. Councilmembers who wish to attend should notify Joan who will RSVP by December 30, 2000.

Mayor Bailey reminded the Council that the January meetings will be on Tuesday, January 2 and Tuesday, January 16, 2001 due to holidays on both Mondays.

Mayor Bailey called on William Plummer who had asked to be on the agenda. Mr. Plummer discussed continuing problems with young people driving trucks or off road vehicles on the Hicks lot in the 400 block of Cannon Street as if the property were a racetrack. He said he did not know the names of the young men. He said the work that was done with taxpayers money to clear the lot of junk metal, grade and seed the lot has been destroyed. He said there are two more abandoned vehicles that have appeared on the lot. He said when these activities occur the police have been called and they respond, however, they are told that since they were on their own property they could anything they want and there was nothing the police could do. The men in the vehicles leave as soon as the police are called so they may have a scanner.

Mr. Ingersoll said when this was reported to him months ago he discussed it with the property owner who said she had not given permission for this to occur and she would support actions by the Town. He said he thought he had impressed upon the Police Department that this would be stopped, but it apparently has not been taken care of. He said there certainly has to be an ordinance that covers this situation, such as the noise ordinance. He said if there was nothing in the ordinances to control racing around a building then we should adopt an ordinance that will cover it. He said we can take care of the abandoned vehicles.

Mayor Bailey said she had seen the condition of the lot. She said noise and safety are issues in the residential neighborhood from these activities.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz commended everyone for excellent Christmas decorations all over Town. She said she wanted to particularly mention Jean and Betsy Towson in the 600 block of High Street who decorate for every holiday. She said the Committee was working the Christmas baskets and they will be delivered later this week.She discussed trash collection over the holiday weekends. The regular garbage collection on Sunday evenings, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (for Monday) will not take place as the landfill will be closed on Christmas and New Year days.

There being no further business, Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills. Mr. Clark moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mr. Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:20 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer