MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
April 8, 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 March 18, 2002. Mr. Kirby moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that Chief Coryell had another engagement and would make his presentation at the next meeting.

Mr. Dahut, owner and resident of 108 Queen Street, was requesting a change to the two-hour parking regulations on Church Alley. He stated he owned 40' on Queen Street and 70' on Church Alley. He parked on Church Alley. He stated there was no parking available on Queen Street. He stated there was now a two-hour parking limit between 8-5 on weekdays. He did not think he should be denied the opportunity to park next to his home. He presented a petition signed by every resident and business owner on Church Alley requesting that the two-hour limit be eliminated.

Mr. Dahut stated the two-hour parking may have solved a problem on Church Alley, but it created more parking problems on Queen Street. He proposed that from Queen Street to the rear of Mr. Behr's property have the recent two-hour parking eliminated. Where the commercial property started, there could be a sign for "commercial parking only" with a two-hour limit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. This would allow the turnover for businesses.

Mr. Clark stated that on March 26, 2001 at the Mayor and Council meeting, there was a suggestion to do business parking only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mr. Kirby stated the issue stemmed from residents on Queen Street, one owning three vehicles, which were parked continuously on Church Alley.

Mr. Kirby stated the problem would be if someone with multiple vehicles got to the parking spaces first and would leave their vehicles parked for weeks at a time. He stated he was willing to go along with Mr. Dahut's suggestion, but was afraid the same problem would occur. Mr. Dahut had pictures that he passed around to the Council. He stated he did not mind if a resident in the neighborhood parked their car in front of his house.

Mayor Bailey asked Mr. Dahut if the Council decided to go along with his suggestion and people left their vehicles in front of his property, if that would be okay with him. Mr. Dahut stated he would not mind, and he had been parking there for five years without a problem.

Mr. Behr stated that he lived in his house for thirty years and never had a parking problem, except for the Tea Party weekends. He stated that four parking places from the residential zone had been eliminated on Queen Street.

Mr. Kirby stated the whole two-hour parking issue came about because a resident complained about the vehicles at a televised meeting. The matter was held over for a decision until input could be heard from residents and everybody in the neighborhood had time to voice their concerns. Mr. Kirby stated if there was a problem, the Council would do their best to f
ix it, but it was the first time the Council had heard about it since then.

Mayor Bailey stated there would be a meeting on April 15th and there would be a vote at that time. She stated anybody that had a concern should voice it ahead of time or at the meeting. She also thought the residents should be notified.

Ms. Harris-McCoy and Ms. Pinder-Hudson were present to discuss a proposal to extend the Farmer's Market to include products of artisana. They proposed to sell goods such as wreaths, garlands and work at Memorial Plaza. Ms. Harris-McCoy suggested up to eight vendors to begin with. She did not want to compete with the Farmer's Market, and what they wanted to sell did not fall into the guidelines of the Farmer's Market because it was not produce. The artisan's would reflect the feel of Kent County and Chestertown in their work, and be a continuation of the Farmer's Market. The goods would be indigenous to the area, and the sales would be finished by noon.

Ms. Harris-McCoy stated that Easton had started an expansion of their Farmer's Market, and did not have the great space that Chestertown did. Mayor Bailey stated that there would have to be language reflecting the goods purchased were things they could not find anywhere else in the County. Ms. Harris-McCoy stated the goods were things they could find only at the Market.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated it sounded like this was something that was already being done. Ms. Harris-McCoy stated they had been selling in the Farmer's Market and she was a regular.

Mayor Bailey asked who would be in charge of making the selection of vendors. Ms. Harris-McCoy stated she and Ms. Pinder-Hudson would take charge of the project. Ms. Harris-McCoy stated there were strict rules of the Farmer's Market. She stated many did not follow the rules. She did not want to compete with Chestertown businesses, but offer something that individuals would find unique to this area.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that anything like the Farmer's Market had to have a set of guidelines, a manager, and the Town should be able to look at it and tell if it was working or not. He suggested allowing it on a probationary period and trying to write some meaningful guidelines.

Ms. Harris-McCoy stated she would be in touch with the church and would be sensitive to weddings or funerals and make other arrangements on those days.

Mr. Bristoll stated that the guidelines and artisans should be supplied and then the Council could vote on it. He stated a realistic commitment could be given at that time.

Mayor Bailey suggested Ms. Harris-McCoy and Mr. Ingersoll work on language for the project, and get a list of artisans who may be interested.

Ms. Farmer, from Washington College, was present. She was in charge of Earth Day and stated the One World Unity Festival would be held on April 20th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Wilmer Park. There would be various form of entertainment, music and food supplied by the Kent County Fire Department.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day would be held on Sunday, April 21st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Centreville Middle School. Residents of Kent, Caroline, Queen Anne, and Talbot Counties were eligible. Gasoline, gas-oil mixes, fuels, acids, cleaners, solvents, automotive fluids, bleach, ammonia, pool chemicals, etc. would be accepted. Mr. Ingersoll stated that he thought Kent County would accept tires at the landfill on that date as well.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that he had a request from Carl Burke at Upper Shore Aging, requesting support for the Meals on Wheels Program for fiscal year 2003. He stated there were 9 residents who received meals in the Town limits. The annual cost for 9 clients receiving 1 meal a day was $6,525.00. Mr. Ingersoll suggested taking the matter up during the budget period.

Mr. Ingersoll had a schedule, which he passed along to the Council. The preliminary budget introduction would be May 6th. The budget workshop meeting was tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 16th , subject to Council's approval. May 23rd was scheduled to advertise the constant yield tax hearing, if applicable. May 20th the budget would be introduced as an ordinance. June 3rd was scheduled for the public hearing on the constant yield tax rate, if applicable, and a public hearing on the budget for FY 2002-3. On June 6th and 13th the budget would be advertised as an ordinance. The budget would be effective by July 1st.

Mr. Ingersoll stated the budget workshop meeting for May 16th was on a Thursday, and asked the Council if they agreed with that. The meeting would be held at 5:30 or 6:00. Mr. Ingersoll stated the Council could let him know at the next meeting if the date was good, since all the dates had to be published. As it stood, the Council agreed that Thursday, May 16th was a good date for everybody.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Visitor's Center had begun, with the footings in place and the foundation progressing well.

Mr. Ingersoll stated the Rotary Bandstand was completed as far as the roof and sides went. He stated in the Fall, the foundation and sub-base were completed by the Town. In order to complete the project, the floor would be bricked and benches would go half way around for the musicians to use. The bandstand would be electrified and there would be lighting inside for when the musicians were there. There was a plaque that would be put in the bandstand in honor of Mr. Corr.

Mr. Ingersoll had a request from Scott's Point Marina requesting to have music in their marina on Tea Party Weekend as they have for many years. Ms. Mumford-Pautz moved to allow the request, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey thanked the Beautification Committee and Joanne Tobriner for the beautiful plants in front of Town Hall.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated that the Community Meeting held at the Resource Center was successful. However, since they were so large, she was checking if the meetings could be held at Sacred Heart Church from now on. The meetings are held the last Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Kirby stated that he received a letter from Crossroads Community. He was not certain whether the meeting was by invitation only or if it was open to the public. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the meeting was open to the public and the Town had received a letter as well. The time was from 4:00-6:00 on April 19th at the Board of Education Building. The meeting concerned the Coast Guard properties located on Foxley Manor Avenue and Rolling Road. Mr. Kirby hoped the Town attorney would be in attendance, as he felt it was a legal matter.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated there would be an Eastern Shore Maryland Municipal League meeting in Rock Hall on Tuesday, April 16. She stated she received a letter from the MML notifying her that she would be inducted into the MML Hall of Fame at the Tuesday night dinner.

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

Mr. Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:15 p.m. was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:

Jennifer Stead
Stenographer

Approved by:

Margo G. Bailey
Mayor