MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
February 19, 2002

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. In attendance were Mabel Mumford-Pautz, J. Brian Kirby, Whaland Clark, Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., William S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Jennifer Stead, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting of February 4, 2002, or the Executive Session of the same date. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated an Executive Session was held at 8:02 p.m. after the Mayor and Council meeting of February 4, 2002 to discuss personnel matters. The entire Mayor and Council was present and voted unanimously to go into executive session. Motions were made to hire two police officers, create a position for a hot spot officer, raise the starting salary of a new police officer and grant an early raise for all officers. The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m. Minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey stated that cash on hand and in banks was $676,016.37.

Mr. Ingersoll stated the new Chestertown Stormwater Management Ordinance introduced at the last meeting needed to be enacted. Mr. Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 1-2002 was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll stated there would be free hearing screenings at the Kent County Chamber of Commerce, 400 Cross Street, on Monday, March 4, 2002 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Mayor Bailey stated that Kent County High School asked the Mayor and Council to donate money for their post-prom party. Mayor Bailey stated the Mayor and Council donated $100.00 in 2000, but did not make a donation in 2001.

Mr. Kirby stated the post-prom party was run by the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Council and was taken over last year by the LMB and they fully funded it. Mayor Bailey stated the letter had been signed by Amy Moredock, Prevention Specialist, and Stephanie Lindsey, Post-Prom Planning Committee. It was decided by the Mayor and Council to table the matter until they could find out who was sponsoring the post-prom.

Mr. Ingersoll stated he applied for a $10,000.00 Urban and Community Forestry Grant for 83 trees consisting of Maples, Hawthorns, Ginkgoes, Oaks, Lindens and Chinese Elms, for the new 18 acre Chestertown Community Park behind Rolling Road.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that a fencing contract had been advertised and sealed bids would be opened March 15, 2002 for the construction and installation of approximately 1500’ of 6’ tall Cedar board on board fencing at the Chestertown Community and Recreational Park.

Mr. Ingersoll stated the County Commissioners and the Kent County Chamber of Commerce had received their leases and Memorandums of Understanding on the Visitor’s Center and both had agreed to them.

Mr. Ingersoll requested an executive session on a legal matter and stated Mr. Barroll would be available at 8:00 p.m. to meet with the Mayor and Council. Mr. Bristoll moved for an executive session following the meeting to discuss a legal matter under section 10.508 of the Annotated Code of the State of Maryland, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mr. Kirby wanted to discuss the petitions that were being passed around Foxley Manor and College Heights (2nd and 4th wards). Mr. Ingersoll explained the petitions were opposing the decision by the Federal Government to allow the houses owned by the U.S. Coast Guard in Still Pond to be offered up as homeless shelters by the McKinney Act. Mr. Ingersoll explained the McKinney Act was a federal act, which stated all surplus federal properties would first be offered to homeless programs.

Mr. Ingersoll read the petitions and stated the first petition with reference to the Rolling Road property had 43 signatures; the second for the Foxley Manor property had 25.

Mr. Ingersoll explained there were 6 homes that were being put up for homeless homes, 2 in Chestertown and 4 in Chester Harbor. Mr. Ingersoll stated this issue would be discussed in executive session following the meeting.

Mr. Kirby asked how many homeless people there were in Chestertown and Kent County and wondered where the people who were going into the homes would be found. Mr. Kirby also stated that a homeless shelter did not belong in a residential neighborhood.

Mayor Bailey stated that the government decided to allow the homeless homes without considering the community or area. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the government may have had no choice because whenever a government building was vacant, whether it be a post office, library, etc., the first thing it had to be offered for was homeless shelter. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the residents of Foxley Manor and College Heights had contacted Mr. Gilchrest about this matter.

Mr. Bristoll asked if there was a group in Kent County who looked after the homeless. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the proposal that came with the information packet from HUD was an agency that did not work with the homeless, but with group homes. The interpretation of the agency was apparently that they would qualify for the program as homeless.

Mr. Bristoll explained that in the past, married couples had resided in all 6 homes with children, who were in the Coast Guard. The homes had been vacant for two years. Mr. Ingersoll stated the homes were off of the tax rolls. Forty-five percent of properties in Town were not on the tax rolls because they were colleges, churches, institutions or government. He stated it was a high percentage and it had to be considered. Also, how many alternative living units there were in each community had to be studied. Mr. Ingersoll stated there were already four in one community. Mayor Bailey stated she would update the public on this matter.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to appoint Donald McColl to the Historic District Commission. Mr. Clark moved to appoint Donald McColl to fill the vacancy on the Historic District Commission, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked for motions to make the reappointments to the Historic District Commission. Mr. Bristoll moved to reappoint Robert Tyson to the Historic District Commission, was seconded by Mr. Clark and unanimously carried.

Mr. Clark moved to reappoint Patsy Hornaday to the Historic District Commission, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Bristoll moved to reappoint John Seidel to the Historic District Commission, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Mayor and Council meeting of April 1st would be changed to Monday, April 8, 2002.

Mayor Bailey stated there had been information given to the council from Dr. Hennessy concerning the creation of a Human Relations Commission in Kent County. Mayor Bailey stated a Human Relations Commission would look at issues dealing with fair housing, public accommodations, and jobs. A letter from the Commissioners asked the Mayor and Council to look at several issues concerning the function and financing of a County Human Relations Commission

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated that Millington had tabled the issue until Wednesday’s Council of Government’s meeting and requested Chestertown postpone their vote until then.

Mayor Bailey introduced Michael Strauss, representing the Gertrude Goldberg Educational Fund for the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Strauss stated there was going to be a concert over the weekend at the Prince Theatre to raise money for an Educational Fund to provide string instruments for children in elementary school through high school in Kent County. Mr. Strauss stated he had already been in the Garnett and Rock Hall schools and was currently in the Millington school using funding from the Arts Council as funding was not available for concerts in schools. He wanted the Mid-Atlantic String Quartet to go into each school with an educational program every year called “Vibrations”. The Mid-Atlantic Symphony was giving a classical concert every month, either symphony or quartet, and offered a pops concert in the summer. They were hoping to advertise “Classical Escape Packages” in the Chestertown area such as were offered in Washington and Baltimore.

Mayor Bailey stated that Elliott Fisk was having a benefit concert for the Gertrude Goldstein Foundation on Sunday, at 3:00 p.m., at the Prince Theatre. Mr. Strauss stated the money would benefit string quartets in the elementary schools. He stated the Mid-Atlantic Symphony served the entire Eastern Shore. Tickets could be purchased at the Complete Bookseller or the Prince Theatre.

Mr. Clark made a motion for payment of bills, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mr. Clements thanked the Town for cleaning up problem properties in the neighborhood. He stated the Town had been working very hard and he appreciated it.

Mr. Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned at 7:54 p.m. was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:

Jennifer Stead
Stenographer

Approved by:

Margo G. Bailey
Mayor