MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
June 18, 2001

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:50 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 minutes of the Meeting and Public Hearing of June 4, 2001. Mr. Kirby moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Mayor and Council has cash on hand and in banks of $498,310.59.

Mayor Bailey called on Richard Norton, Chairman of the Recreation Commission, for a report and update of the Recreation Commission's activities and plans for the future. Mr. Norton introduced the members of the Recreation Commission who were present. He stated that the Recreation Commission would meet regularly the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Kent County Library. The public was invited to attend. Mr. Norton submitted an extensive written report to the Mayor and Council and reviewed the report for the public by overhead projector.

Mr. Norton said the programs that would be sponsored by Chestertown this summer were the Chestertown Summer Youth Achievement Program (administered by Kent Youth, Inc.) which would be a combination of the Garnett School Program, the Middle School Program and the Chester Bridge Foundation program; the Horizons program at Kent School; and the Kent County Library reading program. The Garnett program will be for Town residents ages 5 to 11 years, open 5:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays from June 18 until late August. The Middle School program is for ages 12 to 18 and includes supervised recreation, character building programs, speakers, counselors and field trips. The Town contribution to the Horizons program is for Chestertown residents who are recommended by the schools and counselors. Once a student is enrolled in this program he or she can continue in it through the eighth grade. The Kent County Library program gives support to ongoing activities of reading skills.

Mr. Norton stated that a grant application had been prepared to the Governor's Commission on Crime Prevention for nine portable basketball hoops to be placed in the Vicker's Park area. Potential sites suggested were Calvert Heights, Calvert Homes on empty lots, and next to Bethel Church at Garnett School.

Mr. Norton discussed the existing park areas in Town and stated that the Recreation Commission would be working on future plans for recreation in Chestertown, development of park land, access to parks, and asking for suggestions and participation from citizens. He said their proposed topics for discussion at the next few meetings would be July 10 - rails to sidewalks; August 14 - a report from Hanson Miekle on the Summer Programs; September 11 - parks and habitats and access to parklands; and October 9 - developing public input for parklands.

Mayor Bailey thanked Mr. Norton for a wonderful report. She said anyone who wishes to contact Dick Norton could do so at 410-778-9977.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said that Carl Burke, Executive Director of Upper Shore Aging, was present with a request for the Council. Mr. Burke stated that USA was applying for a Community Development Block Grant for $450,000 for the Kent County Senior Center to be constructed on their land on Schauber Road. He said the are applying for a bond bill in the amount of $475,000, the County Commission has pledged $100,000 for the project, and USA will make available the one acre lot for the center. He said the grant application requires a Resolution of Support from the Mayor and Council as the sponsor of CDBG grant.

Mr. Ingersoll read Resolution No. 4-01. He stated that a public hearing will be held on this block grant application and also on the Shared Opportunity Services block grant on Monday, July 2, 2001 at 7:15 before the regular Council meeting. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that Resolution No. 4-01 be adopted and that Mayor Bailey be authorized to sign all documents relating to the application, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll reported that the fireworks this 4th of July will be about 9 p.m. at the lagoon property. He said Richard Proctor and Joe Nasatka, who have done the fireworks in the past, will not be able to assist this year. He said the show will be a little more modest as last year as they not only donated their time but also donated a lot of shells. This year they made the arrangements and bid the show for the Town.

Mr. Ingersoll read a permit request from Leslie Raimond to use the Fountain Park for the Special People Special Arts Festival on Saturday, September 15, 2001 from 9 a.m. to noon. The permit also requested permission to display photos of James Martinez from 5 to 8 p.m. July 6, 2001. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the permit be granted, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll read a permit request from the Kent County Humane Society to hold a Mutt Strut on Saturday, October 27, 2001. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the permit be granted, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll requested that the Council hold an executive session following the meeting to discuss two property contract matters. Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said at the previous meeting nominations were made for appointment to the Recreation Commission. She asked for a motion to reappoint Kim White to the Recreation Commission. Mr. Clark made the motion, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to appoint Dawn Wright to the Recreation Commission. Mr. Bristoll made the motion, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to appoint Connie Schroth to the Recreation Commission. Mr. Clark made the motion, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said that there was a hearing going on before the Kent County Planning Commission about traffic on Rt. 213 under a remand by the Judge about the impact of Wal-Mart on the traffic. She said the majority of the County Commissioners found there was not a significant impact on traffic on Washington Avenue from 291 to the bridge. She said Mr. Norton had done some research and had given a statement at the County Planning Commission hearing. She asked Mr. Norton to report his findings about the traffic on Washington Avenue to the Council and the Town.

Mr. Norton said there were conflicting reports on the traffic count on Washington Avenue and the impact that a Wal-Mart would have. He said the report was his personal opinion. He said the data he presented had come from Wal-Mart itself. He said Wal-Mart needed $35,000,000 annual sales for the store to be viable but they presented no data as to where the customers would come from. He said the traffic that would come from Queen Anne's County would have to cross the bridge and due to population figures his estimate was $15,000,000 would come from Kent County and $20,000,000 from Queen Anne's County. He said Wal-Mart presented a plan at the hearing for rebuilding the intersection of 213 and 291 and committed to underwriting the cost of the rebuilding if approved by the State Highway Administration. Mr. Norton said his concern was where the additional traffic would go after it goes through that intersection. He said Wal-Mart's numbers would indicate that there would be 3000 cars in and out each day, many of which would cross the bridge. He said there would be crises points at Rt. 20 and 291 and every intersection on Washington Avenue and north on Rt. 213. He said as a resident, he did not want Washington Avenue to become a killer. Mayor Bailey thanked Mr. Norton for his presentation.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any comments or questions. The Council discussed the Washington Avenue traffic. Mr. Miekle had stated earlier that the recreation program was transporting children across Town to the Middle School by van and all admitted there were currently problems crossing Washington Avenue.

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

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. on a motion by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer