Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:40 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 meetings of April 16 and May 7, 2001 and executive session of May 7, 2001. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes of the three meetings be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that an executive session was held on Monday, May 7, 2001 at 9:15 p.m. pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The entire Mayor and Council was present and voted unanimously to go into executive session. The meeting was called to discuss a contractual matter. No action was taken by the Council. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. 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 $551,712.13.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said that at the previous meeting he introduced Ordinance No. 1-01 Amendment to Chapter 135 Property Maintenance. He said this Ordinance changes from the BOCA Property Maintenance Code to the International Building Code. He said this change had been mandated by the State but was a good change as the International Building Code was more intensive. Mayor Bailey asked for a motion. Mr. Clark moved that Ordinance No. 1-01 be adopted, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said that Ordinance No. 3-01 Amendment Chapter 117 the Noise Ordinance had been introduced at the previous meeting. He said basically the amendment was to change the distance away from a source for a noise violation from 100 feet to 50 feet which will allow for better enforcement of the Noise Ordinance. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that Ordinance No. 3-01 be adopted, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a permit request from the Gospel Church of God to hold teen challenge events on Sat. June 30 and Sat. July 28, 2001 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. They are asking for permission to block the upper half of the 400 block of Calvert Street on the right side during the event. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said that Lynchburg Street from High Street to Calvert should also be blocked because people would come in that street and have no place to go. Mr. Ingersoll said we will discuss with the Church what we think they should do. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the permit be granted as requested, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the budget for the fiscal year 2001-2002 was introduced at the last meeting. The budget will be Ordinance No. 2-01 and it will be available to the public in a day or two. The Council held a workshop earlier in the evening. He said it was a balanced budget with the revenues and expenditures the same as mentioned at the last meeting. The public hearing on the Budget will be Monday, June 4, 2001 at 7:30 p.m.

Mayor Bailey asked for an executive session following the meeting for a personnel matter. Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland for discussion of a recreation commission appointment. The motion was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that Music in the Park will begin on Saturday, June 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fountain Park. The first concert will be the Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band. The concerts will be held every other Saturday night.

Mayor Bailey reminded the Council that they will judge the Tea Party Parade and should be at the judging stand at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2001.

Mayor Bailey said the State Highway Administration had offered to meet with a Town Task Force to discuss highway problems on State highways in Town. After several meetings the committee came to some conclusions to be presented to the Council and then sent on to the State Highway Administration. She asked Toby Tobriner to discuss the conclusions of the committee. Mr. Tobriner read the list of ten items, not in any order of priority. The ten items were: 1) replace the manhole covers at N. Water Street and 213; 2) install a pedestrian barrier at the steps on northeast corner of Rt. 213 and N. Water Street rerouting foot traffic; 3) add reflectors on the median strip from the bridge center to Queen Street; 4) replace worn and faded signs at Water Street and Riverside Terrace; 5) install pedestrian, LED lighted crosswalks at Queen Street and 213, the College crosswalk and Rt. 213/291; 6) study the feasibility of increasing the turning radius of Rt. 213 northbound lane at intersection with Spring Avenue; 7) undertake a general traffic study in the context of the loss of funding for the By-Pass; 8) update the traffic county study on the Chestertown bridge to augment a recently completed study; 9) increase police presence to deter speeding on Rt. 213 with emphasis on leg between Chestertown bridge and Spring Avenue; and 10) study the feasibility of creating three lanes of traffic on Washington Avenue, two going north and one south, to enable emergency vehicles better access to the Hospital (although this last item was not discussed by the task force and was Mr. Tobriner's personal opinion).

Mayor Bailey said she would like the Council to approve a formal request to the State Highway Administration for further study and assistance on these items. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would like the intersection of Rt. 291 and Rt. 20 included.

Mayor Bailey introduced Peter Rice of Echo Hill. Mr. Rice stated that his request for fund raising was on behalf of Echo Hill and Sultana. He said the funding for that Cannon Street pier ended up being $30,500 from each organization. He said in order to defray part of their expense for the construction, they were requesting permission to put a sign at the head of the pier that explains the project, how it was built and with a lock box where people could put in contributions. He said the box would be opened each day. He said a $50 donation would name a plank; a $200 donation would name a piling; the slip for the Sultana could be named for a $5000; the slips for the Annie D and Elsworth could be named for $2500 each. He said it would give people an opportunity to make a voluntary contribution. He said they were hoping to start this weekend because of the large number of people who would be in Town.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she saw nothing wrong with the proposal and moved that it be approved. The motion was seconded by Mr. Clark. Mayor Bailey asked for the vote on the motion. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz mentioned that there had been a serious fire Friday evening. She said the Fire Company and other did an excellent job. She said there will be a more expanded recreation program this summer with Richard Norton as Chairman of the Recreation Commission.

Gail Regester discussed traffic at the foot of Cannon Street for the upcoming Tea Party weekend. She suggested that signs be placed on Cannon Street to indicate that there would be local traffic only. She said people would drive down Cannon only to find they must turn around and go back. Chief Coryell stated that the signs for local traffic only would help.

Mr. Kirby asked what the "Chestertown Regional Greenway" was. He said there was some mention of a proposed project with a rail to trail and waterfront promenade. Mayor Bailey said the Town had discussed the rail lines with the County Commissioners. The Commissioners said they would keep the rail line but they had no objection to doing rails and trails. She said there was a group who would meet with Mr. Norton to look further at this.

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

Mr. Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:12 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.